Hermiston Herald Page
Oct. 8, 2002

DEQ orders shut down of liquid incinerator

By Frank Lockwood
Staff writer

HERMISTON - Top chemical demilitarization experts have again been called in
to help solve problems with Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility's
Liquid Incinerator 1, Project Manager Don Barclay said last week.

Meanwhile, testing of other furnaces - the Deactivation Furnace System and
the Liquid Incinerator 2 - have continued to move ahead.

"Since last week when UMCDF received the mini-trial burn results and
throughout the entire weekend, operators, engineers and other experts have
been examining all aspects of the process," reported Army spokesperson Mary
Binder. "This includes the entire spectrum - everything from pulling apart
equipment to looking at programmatic historical records from other sites.

"Current projection is this process will continue this week. We hope to have
a more definitive path forward by the end of the week. As indicated in
Thursday's meeting, we are continuing to meet with DEQ representatives to
keep them aprised of our actions."

Mini-trial burns are conducted in order to establish a feed rate for metals:
Before actual chemical warfare agent is burned, incinerators must be made to
destroy a less dangerous, surrogate material. Measured amounts of metals
are "spiked" or added to the mix, in order to demonstrate that the systems'
emissions will not exceed the allowed rates.

In an Oct. 2 letter, the DEQ directed Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal
Facility to shut-down its Liquid Incinerator 1 (LIC1) until they can solve
problems with two metals, chromium and lead. This was the second time the
incinerators were tested and found wanting.

"That doesn't mean that those numbers that were recorded meant a risk to the
public," Project Manager Don Barclay said.

During an earlier mini-test, five metals exceeded government standards.

Tests were re-done after changes to the system:

• Metals "spiked" or added to the surrogate were reduced by 85 percent.
• Temperatures were lowered by 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Pressure changes were made in the scrubber system.
• Processing changes were made in the the scrubber system.

Before those changes, the number of metals exceeding the standards was five,
after the changes, the two metals still exceeded standards. "We will do
whatever we need to do so that when we reach that surrogate trial burn, we
know we will pass," Barclay said. Whatever time it takes to make the system
sure, "I will invest that time," Barclay said. The cost, he said, was "not
even a consideration." Investments in solving problems now will "save time
and labor down the road" Barclay said. Barclay said he hoped to find out
sometime this week how long it will take to resolve the problems.

"We're ready when we're ready, said DEQ Administrator Wayne Thomas. "We've
hit a bump in the road, and we're doing what we need to do to make the
project ready."

Mari Margil, Sierra Club spokesperson, made an October 4 statement about
the trial burns. Among her comments were the following criticisms of
incineration and a calls for alternative technologies:

• "The shut-down at Umatilla is, unfortunately, not surprising. The problems
  that continue to plague other chemical weapons incinerators elsewhere in the
  country are now becoming a daily reality at Umatilla.
• "The release of toxic metals, including carcinogens like arsenic, is an
  extremely dangerous, yet predictable outcome.
• "The Sierra Club again calls upon the DEQ to revoke the Army's permit to
  operate the incinerator at Umatilla. There have been enough delays, enough
  safety failures, and enough wasting of taxpayer dollars. It is time for the
  DEQ to realize that we need to bring alternative technologies to Oregon, to
  protect workers, communities, and the environment."

Sierra Club is one of the parties that in a law suit that is an attempt to
have the UMCDF permits revoked. The alternative technologies include various
types of neutralization.

Asked about alternative technologies, Thomas said his directions were: "We
have picked that (incineration) technology, make it happen." Likewise,
Barclay said, "All of our efforts are focused on incineration."

Thomas said there were no contingency plans at Umatilla, "because we
believe that we will be successful." Thomas said that with some of the
alternative technologies there are bi-products that must be disposed of,
probably by incineration. "Here we have one facility that's able to do it
all," Thomas said. Nevertheless, he said, things will happen when there are
complex machines operated by humans.

Recently, a worker at the incineration plant at Tooele, Utah, was exposed to
nerve agent and showed symptoms. Asked what was to prevent a similar culture
of denial from happening at Umatilla, Rick Kelly of Washington
Demilitarization, who was also at the press meeting, pointed to Washington
Demilitarization policies intended to make UMCDF safe.

Washington Demilitarization's policy is to give time off for safety,
"without repercussions." Workers are encouraged to to whatever it takes to
make the job safe, he said. "If you don't do that, then what it costs you
down the stream is somebody hurt or something (undesirable) happening."

Employees start and end each day with safety comments, Kelly said. WDC
employees can shut down any operation at any time, he said, and they are
encouraged to make sure it is safe before they go again. "You have got to do
the right think the right way," he said. WDC is conscientiously building a
"safety culture" in all projects, he said.

You build that culture. People have to feel comfortable with that, and they
are working with that now," he said.

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