Depot approves worker protections

This story was published Tue, Aug 10, 2004

By Jeannine Koranda
Herald Oregon bureau

The last of an estimated 70 to 80 requirements that needed to be met before chemical weapons destruction could begin at the Umatilla Chemical Depot is done, officials say.

After the Monday approval of whistleblower protections that will be added to the permit for the Umatilla Chemical Depot incinerator, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is notifying the state Environmental Quality Commission that "all open items have now been closed," said Dennis Murphey, administrator of the department's Chemical Demilitarization Program.

Murphey said he expects a Friday meeting with the commission at Good Shepherd Hospital in Hermiston to proceed, and said DEQ then will recommend that the commission approve the start of incinerator operations.

That approval would mean chemical weapons burning could begin by Aug. 18.

The whistleblower protections were implemented in response to a July 26 ruling by Judge Michael Marcus of Multnomah Circuit Court in a case commonly called GASP III.

When the ruling was made, attorney Stu Sugarman, who represents incineration opponents in the case, said he hoped the judgment would force modifications of the permit that would require extensive public testimony, thus delaying the start of incineration.

Sugarman said Monday that he was dissatisfied with the DEQ's decision, calling it "more proof that the agency doesn't care."

"The whistleblower protections are woefully inadequate," he said.

He said opponents would appeal to the judge to stop incinerator startup.

Rick Kelley, spokesman for Washington Group International, the contractor overseeing the incineration facility, said he was pleased with the DEQ's decision and the company is ready to begin operations.

He said the whistleblower programs implemented in the permit already were in place at his company before the court case.

Last week the Environmental Quality Department also approved the final health risk protocol for the project and determined that the incineration facility's pollution abatement system, called a Brine Reduction Area, was ready, Murphey said.

The final three items were the tail end of a 70- to 80-item checklist that needed to be completed before weapons destruction could begin. All that's left is final authorization from the Environmental Quality Commission.

 

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