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Oregon to Consider Umatilla Incinerators Tomorrow
Oregon environmental regulators are expected to decide tomorrow whether the U.S. Army may begin chemical weapons incineration at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, the Oregonian reported (see GSN, July 13). Observers, including the Army, expect the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission to allow the plan to go forward, according to the Oregonian. “All indications point in that direction,” said depot spokeswoman Mary Binder. Burning could begin next week with state approval, but some incinerator opponents said they would file an injunction to block the move as early as today. “We’re not ready to give up,” said Karyn Jones, who leads Gasp, an activist group that has fought the incinerator for more than eight years. “And even if they start, we’re not giving up,” she added. Opposition, construction delays and environmental regulations have delayed incineration for years, according to the Oregonian. The depot stores about 12 percent of the U.S chemical weapons stockpile, nearly two-thirds of which is distilled sulfur mustard, a blistering agent, according to the Oregonian. The remainder consists of sarin and VX nerve agents. The disposal project is expected to take at least six years, at a cost of more than $2 billion (Andy Dworkin, The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Aug. 12).
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