HERMISTON -- The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program will get $3 million to implement the second part of a Hermiston evacuation plan.

The money comes from the Army through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Evacuation plans for the city had been considered part of a multi-strategy approach to community safety in the event of an emergency at the Umatilla Chemical Depot for years. The other component is "shelter in place," a CSEPP program that educates residents near the depot to protect their homes and businesses in the event of an emergency.

But it had appeared doubtful recently that CSEPP would get money for the evacuation project. It was a bone of contention for some city and county officials, who said a lack of funding showed a lack of concern for public safety.

"We're very pleased," said Ed Brookshier, Hermiston city manager. "We really thought the improvements that would be accomplished through phase 2 funding were just really crucial to make evacuation an option."

Dennis Doherty, Umatilla County commissioner, also was pleased. "I was confident we would be getting some funding, but I didn't think it would be this soon," he said.

CSEPP officials originally requested $12.9 million for this year but were told in November that FEMA only had $5.6 million to give them. Last month, FEMA said the agency would get an additional $4.1 million.

The additional $3 million means the program is fully funded for this year.

The depot, 30 miles south of the Tri-Cities, stores 220,604 munitions and containers filled with 7.4 million pounds of deadly nerve and mustard agents. The chemicals are set for incineration, possibly beginning this summer.

The $3 million will be spent to make improvements to Elm Street, near Wal-Mart, athletic fields and an aquatic center currently under construction. All attract out-of-town visitors who might not have a place to take refuge in case of an emergency.

FEMA decided the phase 2 plan would help reduce risk to the public in the event of an emergency at the depot after it received preliminary findings from Innovative Emergency Management, a Baton Rouge, La.-based firm hired to study the issue.

CSEPP already received $1.5 million for phase 1 of the evacuation plan. The money will pay for a wireless broadband system that will allow Hermiston police to control traffic lights on the north-south Highway 395 corridor during an evacuation.

Most of that work is expected to be done this spring.

An additional $6 million will be requested from the federal government in CSEPP's 2005 budget to make improvements to Highland Street and neighboring roads to provide another eastern route out of town.

Innovative will study benefits of phase 2 and will look closely at phase 3 plans to determine if it should be implemented, said Jess Siegal, FEMA spokesman.