Umatilla, Morrow Counties Ask for Incinerator "Impact Fee"
(The following is excerpted from the July 1998 issue of "Common Sense," the newsletter of the Chemical Weapons Working Group, published by the Kentucky Environmental Foundation.)
Following the lead of Tooele County, Utah, officials from two Oregon counties bordering the Umatilla Army Depot have requested an "impact fee" from the government to offset costs associated with the proposed chemical weapons incinerator. A Hermiston, Oregon newspaper reported on June 30, 1998 that Umatilla and Morrow county officials are seeking $55 million in compensation for "infrastructure demands resulting from the Army's project."
In May 1996, Tooele County, Utah, home of the first continental U.S. chemical weapons incinerator, was awarded 1700 acres of industrial land and $13 million compensation for economic impacts from the incinerator. That transaction was possible because it was required by a county ordinance under the Federal Facility Compliance Act. At a House National Security committee hearing on March 5, 1998, Army officials said legislation would be required in order for other chemical weapons stockpile sites to be awarded such impact fees.
Other News from Oregon...
Three Oregon environmental organizations, GASP, the Sierra Club and the Oregon Wildlife Federation, and dozens of individuals living near the chemical weapons stockpile site at the Umatilla Army Depot will challenge the incinerator permit at a hearing on October 22nd in an attempt to stop chemical weapons incinerator. The groups are challenging the Air Quality and Hazardous Waste components of the permit. Karyn Jones with GASP, explained that the goal of the lawsuit is to halt the incineration program in favor of implementation of safer, non-incineration technologies. A decision on the lawsuit will be made in
December 1998, or early in 1999. Any Oregonians interested in the chemical weapons issue are encouraged to show their support by attending the October hearing! For more information, or to get in touch with CWWG members in Oregon, contact the CWWG office at (606) 986- 0868.
 CWWG Home Page |
Contact us: |