Hermiston Herald
June 18, 2002

Decision draws mixed reaction

By Frank Lockwood
Staff writer

HERMISTON - What are experts saying about Gov. John Kitzhaber's decision to approve emergency preparedness in the area surrounding Umatilla Chemical Depot?

The Hermiston Herald asked 20 people involved with chemical weapons demolition issues what they thought about the decision. We also asked opinions on safety, in view of a recent review by risk analyst Jared Black. Black had criticized the Army's risk assessment, saying new toxicity estimates (AEGLs) showed an accident involving even one rocket might put residents are risk. Here is what we heard back:

Thomas Johnson (Oregon Health)
"I'm very pleased to have this last hurdle behind us." The bigger risk is in allowing the weapons to continue to deteriorate and not dispose of them, he said.

Johnson said that while plans are not perfect, they are adequate. "We will refine (the plans) based on the new information coming with the AEGLs and the reevaluation of the toxicity values I expect that we will have yet new information that we will then need to take into account."

Johnson said a perfect plan may never come. "Proceeding now and refining the plan as new information becomes available makes "a great deal of sense."

Johnson said some adjustments are needed, but the refinements do not warrant stopping the destruction of the weapons.

[Johnson is the administrator Office of Public Health Systems Department of Human Services]

Casey Beard (Emergency Management)
Morrow County Emergency management is concerned about the implications of the new toxicity estimates and has been "looking at" Puff computer models of plumes with the new AEGLs for some time, Beard said.

Beard said that based on a review of that information, they have secured funding to purchase recirculating clean air filters to allow people to safely shelter-in-place for a prolonged period in environments ranging from serious to life threatening.

Morrow County is also planning protective actions at greater distances from the depot, he said. " Boardman, for example, already has sirens, tone alert radios and shelter-in-place kits. They are "refining" evacuation plans now that the AEGLs show a greater possibility of agent reaching Boardman.

[Beard is the emergency manager for Morrow County.]

Dennis Doherty (Umatilla County Commissioner)
"The governor made the correct decision, for the right reasons," said Doherty. When the chemicals are gone, the potential dangers are gone, he said. "Why prolong the exposure of 40,000 people?"

Doherty said it will never reach a point where everyone is in agreement, but the vast majority of citizens and officials do agree with the governor's decision. AEGL (toxicity study results) and other issues are manageable, he said. They present challenges, but they don't justify further delay in the disposal program, said Doherty.

[Doherty is also Chair of Oregon CSEPP Governing Board, member of Governor's Executive Review Panel]

Sue Oliver (DEQ)
The governor's notification completes one of the last few requirements before the Department of Environmental Quality will approve the start of surrogate operations at UMCDF, Oliver said.

Within the next several weeks the DEQ expects to complete its review of information related to two remaining requirements: (1) construction certification of the Munitions Demilitarization Building filter systems and (2) final review of 353 drawings and specifications. DEQ's Director, Stephanie Hallock, will make the final decision on whether to approve the start of operations.

The new AEGLs do not affect the Army's ability to safely dispose of chemical agents, said Oliver.

[Oliver is a specialist with Oregon DEQ's Chemical Demilitarization Program]

Craig Williams (National Anti-Incineration Activist)
Williams said the governor is mistaken in his finding that the area surrounding the Umatilla incinerator is prepared for a chemical release.

By signing off on a watered down checklist that falls far short of providing the Maximum Protection directed by Congress, said Williams, "The governor has shirked his responsibility and joined the pack of followers instead of being a leader."

Williams said the Army can safely dispose of the nerve agents if a technology is deployed that can control the material and demonstrate a consistent capability to actually destroy the agents - incineration can do neither. The new knowledge that these agents are much more toxic that earlier believed makes these two criteria even more important than ever before, he said.

[More information from Williams may be found on the Chemical Weapons Working Group at http://www.cwwg.org.]

Kym Cazier (OEM)
We are still very safe, said Cazier. "We will need to make some minor changes to our plan, but the plan is based on a worst case scenario for any event, therefore I believe it is sufficient to adequately protect the community regardless of whether we use AEGL's or not."

[Cazier works with Oregon Emergency Management.]

Karyn Jones (Local Activist)
"I am very disappointed with the governor's decision," Jones said.

When Congress authorized CSEPP the goal was to provide maximum protection to the stockpile communities, but the governor of Oregon has decided that adequacy is good enough for Oregon, she said.

"I don't believe that if the Depot was located in Portland or Salem that this would have happened.

"I don't believe that the Army can safely dispose of the nerve and mustard gas using incineration."

[Jones is an active member of the environmental group, G.A.S.P., which opposes incineration.]

Bob Palzer (Activist)
"I am hard pressed to understand how (the governor) could have made the decision to go forward with the test burns in light of the information indicating the great risks from incineration," Palzer said.

"I wish the local community would stop buying a well honed tune that incineration is the only proven technology."

Palzer said incineration poses considerable risks to the workers and members of the community that could be avoided by using proven technologies specifically designed, tested, and permitted for these chemical munitions.

Sixty-four percent of the Umatilla stockpile is mustard in one-ton containers. Palzer said to choose anything other than "neut/bio" to deal with that component of the stockpile would be "irresponsible."

Palzer said three ACWA technologies have been proven able to handle the other third of the stockpile. Kentucky has just decided they will go with alternative technologies. Exactly which technologies will be decided later this year.

[Palzer holds a Ph.D. in chemistry, is a former UC Berkeley faculty, retired]

Cheryl Humphrey (CSEPP)
While many debate the technology that may be used, emergency response capabilities are a critical need, said Humphrey. That's where CSEPP is focused: to increase the ability to alert folks and respond quickly if there is an event involving the chemical agents stored at the Umatilla Chemical Depot, she said.

Humphrey said the governor gave deserved recognition to hundreds of folks (i.e. emergency responders, schools, hospitals, businesses, citizens, emergency management staffs and more) who have worked hard to insure our mutual priority of public safety in the event of an emergency at the Umatilla Chemical Depot .

Humphrey said we have an adequate, functional emergency response system. The mission now is to focus on continuous incremental improvements, to make safe, safer.

Toxicologists, Health Department officials, and Emergency Management professionals from both Oregon and Washington are aware of and working on the AEGLs, she said.

Their work will be ongoing until at least November. Existing plans remain basically sound, according to Humphrey. Those plans are living documents, to be reviewed and adjusted as new or additional information becomes available, she added.

Concerning the Jared Black reports that higher toxicity levels pose a great risk: The emergency response community realizes that the chemicals agents stored are indeed hazardous, said Humphrey. "That is why we work hard to help make people aware of what is in their community, how they would be warned in the event of an accident, and most importantly what they can do to stay safe if an accident does occur."

[Humphrey is the Public Information Officer for Umatilla County CSEPP]

Bob Flournoy (Citizens Advisory Commission)
The communities should be thankful for the CSEPP men and women who have overcome many, frustrating problems, he said.

Flournoy said original planning allowed for conditions that were unknown at the time of the 1996 QRA.

"I understand that a minimum amount of minor adjustments were anticipated and will be made to compensate for the higher toxicity levels," he said.

Since 1996 we have the advantage of hindsight. Suddenly experts and critics "pop out of the woodwork."

The Army will make every effort possible to avoid an incident, said Flournoy. Avoidance is imperative not only for the citizens, but for the Army personnel who live and work with the toxic chemicals, he said.

"Carelessness at such close range would not be much of an option, would it!"

[Flournoy is chairman of the Citizens Advisory Commission, the governor's "eyes and ears" in the community.]

Mary Binder (Army Depot)
The governor's decision is a very important step, said Binder. The Army will continue to work with and support the communities' efforts to maintain and fine tune current preparedness levels, she said.

"We are confident we can safely destroy the nerve agents we store. The Army has many years experience and documentation to back this up."

[Binder is the public information officer at Umatilla Chemical Depot.]

Frank Lockwood may be reached at 567-6457 or at flockwood@hermistonherald.com.