East Oregonian
02/22/02

Filters could be finding their way to Irrigon residents

By HEIDI SODERSTROM
of the East Oregonian

IRRIGON--Some southeast Irrigon residents could soon receive recirculating air filters because of their proximity to the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

The Oregon Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Governing Board approved a request Wednesday that will be sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for money to distribute the 327 filters for a pilot project that's been eight years in the making.

FEMA is the organization responsible for dispensing funds to CSEPP in nine states.

"In southeast Irrigon, some houses don't have time to evacuate and at the same time cannot safely shelter in place long enough," said Morrow County CSEPP manager Casey Beard. He said studies have shown "the air filters significantly enhanced and extended the stay time in a safe room."

Beard said a line item in the budget for the Morrow County portion of the project shows $150,000 for purchase and $6,000 for distribution that could be used for this very purpose.

"We believe that the cost for the recirculating air filters and installation is within the established costs for Oregon, so we're not busting the budget," Beard said.

The type of filter Beard asked the board to consider outperforms other filters by 30 percent and moves 230 cubic feet of air per minute using 12 pounds of charcoal. The cost varies, he said, but if the board acts now, the cost could be reduced by adding the purchase order to Calhoun County's in Alabama. Without adding the purchase to Alabama's request, the filters will cost $349 plus $120 for activation.

The Irrigon Fire Department has agreed to distribute and install the filters.

"If it's in a safe room with duct tape and plastic, any vapors that leak in are going to be captured and trapped," Beard said.

"I feel this is very central for public safety," said Morrow County Commissioner John Wenholz. "We need to be able to do everything we can to make sure citizens can shelter in place as long as they need to."