Tuesday, August 19, 2008

EQC reviews 3 Depot issues resulting from GASP lawsuit

The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission will meet in Hermiston this week to reconsider three issues a court remanded to it.

The final judgment in a lawsuit the local anti-incineration group GASP and others brought against the commission remanded three issues to it for findings on best available technology and no major adverse impact. The EQC must determine whether the best available technology determination for the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility incineration process should include and require operation of the Pollution Abatement System Carbon Filter System. The system was not a demonstrated technology for the chemical demilitarization incineration process when the original permit was issued, but the commission since has found the system to be a proven technology, resulting in reduced public risk by providing faster destruction of the munitions stockpile.

The commission meets from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Friday at the Hermiston Conference Center, 415 S. Highway 395.

Members have scheduled a public forum at 11:15 a.m. Thursday and a public meeting from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, both at the Conference Center.

Commissioners also will decide the best available technology for eliminating mustard agent with elevated mercury levels at the Depot, as remanded by the court in the final judgment in the GASP lawsuit.

Several ton containers of mustard gas at the Depot contain elevated mercury levels, likely due to the gas being put into insufficiently cleaned containers in the 1940s.

Commissioners Thursday also will, discuss conforming Oregon air quality rules to Federal Clean Air Act requirements, and a dairy air task force update. Friday, the discussion is expected to center on the fish consumption rate project.

The commission is a five-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to serve as the policy and rule-making board for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. It conducts regular meetings throughout the state to adopt rules, establish policies, issue orders and decide appeals of fines or other department actions. For a full agenda, visit www.deq.state.or.us/about/eqc/EQCagendas.htm.