Life After the Depot's Closure
One idea is to turn land into an industrial park
CARLY KENNELLY CARLY KENNELLY
KVEW TV
Last updated: Wednesday, June 14th, 2006 09:43:22 PM

Managers at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility say the depot is on track for closure in the next decade. Depot workers have destroyed all of the GB Sarin Bombs in the depot's stockpile. Depot workers now move on to the M55 GB Rockets. Managers say they still hope to incinerate all weapons at the depot by 2010 or right after.

But, what happens after closure? The Local Reuse Authority has some ideas, but no definite answers.

"Who the land eventually goes to is an issue, at this point we've been supportive of it going to the Local Reuse Authority," said Umatilla County Commissioner and authority member Bill Hansell.

The question remaining is what would the authority do with the property? Umatilla County Commissioner Bill Hansell has been a member of the authority since it formed in the 80's. He says one idea is to take advantage of what's there. The railroad, two interstates, and the river make the area perfect for an industrial park. Since the depot property lies in both Umatilla and Morrow County, another idea is to let the individual counties decide what they want on the land. But, in the meantime, Hansell says the authority wants to see if it can sublease a vacant rail yard on the southern edge of the property. That way the authority could use the money toward its planning.

"We're in a position where we can begin to acquire seed money for development, for personnel, for some type of governance operation," said Hansell.

Hansell says nothing is final yet, but the authority knows it has time to figure it out.

"We continue to meet, continue to be involved in working with plans and as the time draws closer, these questions will need to be answered and will," said Hansell.