| State modifies depot storage permit By the East Oregonian HERMISTON — The state has approved a modification of the Umatilla Chemical Depot’s hazardous waste storage permit that will allow ton containers of mustard agent to be stored in K-Block with the other chemical munitions. Since incineration began more than a year ago, the only agent stored in igloos in I-Block is mustard in ton containers. Mustard is a blistering agent. Incineration of about 45 percent of the GB rockets filled with sarin nerve agent has emptied some igloos in K-Block, providing room for the mustard ton containers. The modification request noted that consolidating the storage of munitions in one area allows for “improved security management.” Because K-Block is the closest storage area to the Umatilla Chemical Agent Demilitarization Facility, moving the mustard containers also now is expected to allow “safer and more secure movement of the tons from K-Block to the UMCDF during demilitarization of the mustard,” the permit modification request noted. That modification was approved by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The permit language also was modified to clarify closure authority under the Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) regulations. The Umatilla Chemical Depot was officially included as a BRAC facility this year. Regarding another permit modification request, the Army is seeking to eliminate the continuous monitoring requirements for nitrogen oxide emissions from the common stack at the UMCDF. Instead, monitoring for nitrogen oxide will be conducted during the “shakedown and/or trial burn periods on each furnace system.” A copy of the permit modification request is available for public review at the Hermiston library and Umatilla Outreach Office on Hermiston’s Main Street. A public information meeting on the request will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 in conference room No. 1 at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston. |
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