Global Security Newswire

The private contractor in charge of operating the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Oregon has been fined again by the state for not ensuring pollution reduction machinery was properly inspected prior to its being put back into use, the Associated Press (see GSN, July 25).

The most recent fines to Washington Demilitarization Co. from the Oregon Environmental Quality Department total $38,400 and are for the offenses of not analyzing air levels around a container that holds blister agent as frequently as is mandated; not correctly setting the chemical furnace's operating standards for the handling of mustard agent-contaminated water; and not checking over a mist eliminator prior to utilizing it to treat mustard agent-contaminated water.

At no time was public health or the environment put at risk due to the violations, the department said.

The defense contractor has been hit with fines in excess of $800,000 in the past 12 years for offenses related to its operation of the disposal facility.

URS spokesman Hal McCune said the majority of the financial penalties to his company's subsidiary were self-reported to the state. Some of the penalties have been reduced and the company has paid roughly $725,000.

"It is difficult to abide by the very stringent regulations we have," McCune said. "We do our best, but understand that we may not always be able to measure up to the those strict requirements. We respect DEQ's ruling."

The spokesman said while the contractor was assessing its latest fine, an appeal was not expected to be made.

At one point, the Umatilla arsenal stored 12 percent of the United States arsenal of aging chemical arms. The last of the depot's chemical warfare materials were eradicated in October, but personnel are continuing to treat and eliminate waste created in the chemical disposal process (Jeff Barnard, Associated Press/Seattle Post Intelligencer, Nov. 16).