Hermiston Herald
May 21, 2002

Panel says protection adequate

By Frank Lockwood
Staff writer

HERMISTON - Emergency preparedness is "adequate," to move ahead with
incineration of surrogate materials, the Governor's Executive Review Panel
decided at the May 14 meeting, held at Hermiston National Guard Armory.
Members at last Tuesay's meeting said work is still needed to ensure maximum
protection. The panel then voted unanimously to recommend that Gov. John
Kitzhaber give written authority for the Army to go ahead with thermal
shakedown tests and surrogate burns at Oregon's chemical weapons disposal
site.

The ERP decision is with regard to the minimal protection that the state
must have, not the maximum protection that federal law requires, said
Umatilla County Commissioner and CSEPP Governing Board Chairman Dennis
Doherty.

A draft letter to the governor, prepared by the ERP ahead of time for the
occasion, reads, "The panel members have unanimously concluded that an
adequate emergency response program is in place and fully operational to
protect the general population surrounding the UMCD. Accordingly, the panel
recommends that you provide the written determination to the Department of
Environmental Quality, required by the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal
Facility's hazardous waste permit."

The letter mentions that there are several unresolved "key issues." Among
them is the 450-megahertz radio system, which must be upgraded and installed
by February 2003.

Other items acknowledged in the meeting, but not specifically mentioned in
the letter, were:

AEGL refers to new toxicity estimates, which has already begun causing the
Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) to consider
altering preparedness plans here.

The time required to evacuate the area must be reduced several hours, CSEPP
managers said. Likewise, the counties do not have a plan for re-entry, in
the event of a major chemical disaster. It has yet to be determined how long
is long enough, before those who have evacuated may return to their
residences and businesses.

Neither have standards and procedures been established for advising people
when to risk leaving their shelter-in-place locations. Over time the air
inside a sheltered-in-place location could become saturated with chemicals
in concentrations equal to the outside air, but emergency managers admit
they don't have a plan in place which covers such problems.

In addition, the ERP and CSEPP have a list of items CSEPP is "tracking." The
highest number of items tracked was 339. As of May 14 they were tracking
some 49 remaining items. The other items have been eliminated from the list,
as objectives were met.

During the past two major exercises, all applicable performance measures
were passed. Some performance measures were adjusted when they were
discovered to be unobtainable, but the measures are an attempt to put some
objectivity into the notion of preparedness. "With our performance measures,
we can verify what we can do," said Morrow County Judge Terry Tallman. The
May 14 decision verifies that protection is at least the minimum level
needed to proceed, he said. "We are always trying to make it better. That's
our goal," he added. ERP members can look community members in the eye and
say, "We've done our level best to protect you," Tallman said.

Umatilla Mayor George Hash agreed with Tallman. "Perfect? No!" Hash said,
"But if we have to wait another 12 years we'll be like Hanford," he said,
alluding to leaking radioactive waste in the Richland area.

"We need to move forward," said Hermiston Mayor Bob Severson. "I haven't
talked to anybody personally who was against it."

Anton Minthorn, representing the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, said
he had not received the level of assurance that he sought, but that, "All of
us have done what we can."

The participation allowed the tribes was "somewhat limited," Minthorn yet,
he was thankful for that opportunity, he remarked. "Even if we do not agree,
we have to work together."

CSEPP officials noted that work continues on emergency preparedness. "I want
to emphasize, let's not get too mushy yet," said Doherty. Emergency
preparedness is still a work in progress, he said.

The ERP recommendation is expected to weigh heavily in the governor's
decision, but, according to permits, the Army and its contractors cannot
commence any thermal shakedown, trial burn, or post-trial burn activity,
until the governor has notified them in writing that an adequate emergency
response program is in place and fully operational.

Minthorn says he hopes the governor will recognize that the usefulness of
the Executive Review Panel did not end with the May 14 letter and
recommendation, and that he will extend the ERP's life span. "I'm certainly
not going to walk away. There is still work that needs to be done," he said.