PENDLETON — The Umatilla County Commissioners voted Tuesday to leave the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Governing Board which has being the overseer for chemical emergency preparedness for the Umatilla Chemical Depot incineration process.

The commissioners feel the governing board, which was formed five years ago to meet the needs of the local communities, has completed its mission and doesn't wish to be part of it any longer.

In a statement by Commissioner Dennis Doherty, Doherty stated that the Governing Board was formed to address two issues: satisfy the Environmental Quality Commission's permit condition that Umatilla and Morrow Counties have adequate and fully operational emergency operations plans in place and begin chemical agent disposal. Incineration at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility started on Sept. 7, 2004.

Commissioner Bill Hansell says that the governing board has served its purpose.

"Dennis has put forward a compelling argument," Hansell said of his colleague's July 26, 2005 memorandum requesting consideration of the county withdrawing from the Governing Board. "It's just another meeting and not productive. It's served its purpose."

Hansell was quick to point out that withdrawal from the Governing Board does not mean the county is abandoning its mission to keep Umatilla County residents safe.

"We are not withdrawing from the CSEPP program," Hansell said. "It is important to stress that."

The Board of Commission-ers received one letter regarding their withdrawal from the Governing Board from Bob Flournoy, chair of the Citizens Advisory Commission. The CAC also wrote a letter to Governor Ted Kulongoski opposing the withdrawal.

Flournoy says that withdrawing from the board "erodes the ability to effectively continue the needed improvements" to emergency management programs.

Pulling out, Flournoy said, "also impedes the public trust and confidence which has been so hard to gain and maintain."