By The Hermiston Herald

HERMISTON — Umatilla Chemical Depot crews were able to make the changeover from 8-inch GB sarin projectiles to 155mm GB sarin projectiles earlier than expected.

According to Bruce Henrickson, public affairs for the UMCD, the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility expects to begin processing of those projectiles sometime between today and Monday.

"The changeover went very smoothly," Henrickson said. "They actually finished two weeks earlier than projected."

Workers at the Umatilla Chemical Depot (UMCD) began the final GB (sarin) munitions campaign today when they moved 792 155mm diameter GB artillery projectiles to the disposal facility at the depot.

The 155mm GB projectiles or "shells" are the last type of sarin-filled munition stored at the depot. Other types of chemical weapons are slated for disposal after this campaign is completed.

Movement of 155mm the projectiles began Thursday afternoon after a little less than a month of "changeover" preparations to modify equipment and procedures that had previously been used to process 8-inch diameter GB artillery projectiles. The last 8-inch sarin-filled artillery shell at Umatilla was destroyed on Jan. 3.

"Team Umatilla has worked safely and very well to get to this point — the beginning of the end of GB agent storage," said Lt. Col. Donna Rutten, depot commander. "While we still have several years to go until we dispose of all types of chemical munitions stored here, it's a significant accomplishment to get started on this campaign."

The changeover from processing 8-inch to 155mm projectiles was scheduled to be completed by mid-February.