United States:  Umatilla to Begin Test Burns Next Week

The Oregon Environmental Quality Department approved a U.S. Army plan Friday to test new chemical weapons incinerators at Umatilla Chemical Depot.  The Army plans to begin initial tests next week, following up with tests on a second incinerator in January and tests on the metal parts furnace in March (see GSN, June 24).

“This is a wonderful and important step for the project,” said Gary Anderson, deputy project manager for the Army.  “Every ‘t’ has been crossed, every ‘i’ dotted.”

The first test, which will last 45 days, will involve simulated weapon test chemicals trichlorobenzene, a degreasing agent, and perchloroethylene, a cleaning solvent, the Oregonian reported.

“The surrogates are more difficult to destroy but less toxic,” said Wayne Thomas, project manager for the Environmental Quality Department.  “There’s a dual benefit here.”

The Army will monitor emissions during the tests, Anderson added.

Army officials have said that if the incinerator destroys 99.9999 percent of the chemicals, they probably could begin burning the weapons, according to the Oregonian.  Incineration of the chemical weapons, including mustard, sarin and VX gases, is scheduled to begin in May 2003.

Some activists criticized the department’s decision to approve the Army plans.  The Sierra Club is involved in a lawsuit claiming that depot plans to respond to an emergency do not meet safety criteria.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, however, said last month that communities near the chemical depot are prepared for an emergency (see GSN, June 13).  A state committee had recommended signing the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Plan (see GSN, May 15; Eric Hand, Oregonian, July 13).

For further information, see:

CDC List of Chemical Agents

Federation of American Scientists Information on Chemical Weapons

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