East Oregonian
November 21, 2002

Incineration would still continue during war

By the East Oregonian

HERMISTON - If the United States goes to war with Iraq, incineration of chemical weapons at the Umatilla Chemical Depot would continue, according to Army officials.

Recent news reports stated that the chemical demilitarization program would halt immediately if the United States attacks Iraq because of a lack of protective support.

Such reports are not true, said Army spokeswoman Mary Binder of the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

"There are no such plans," she said. "We will continue to move forward to get rid of and destroy chemical weapons here."

The Umatilla Chemical Depot has been at a high level of security ever since the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks. National Guard troops have been stationed at the Depot and similar facilities across the country since the attacks.

If the Depot was placed at a higher alert due to a matter of national security such as conflict with Iraq, the Depot may change its procedures. For example, it could stop moving munitions from the storage igloos to the incinerator, such as the depot in Tooele, Utah, did for two days after Sept. 11 attack.

However, the Tooele incinerator operations continued inside the plant, Binder noted.

What exactly the Umatilla Chemical Depot would do in a higher alert situation is a matter of national defense and security, and can't be discussed, Binder said.

The Army is charged with keeping the munitions safe and secure "now and while we move munitions to the facility and during the disposal operation," she said.

The Umatilla Chemical Depot stores 3,717 tons of chemical agent. Incineration of those weapons is scheduled to begin next year.