- Umatilla Chemical Depot
The Umatilla Chemical Depot, (UCD) based in
Umatilla, Oregon , is one of sevenU.S. Army installations in theUnited States that currently storechemical weapons . The chemical weapons stored at thedepot consist of various munitions and ton containers, containingsarin (GB) or VXnerve agent ormustard agent (HD)blister agent . The Army is working in partnership withOregon state and local government agencies (such as Umatilla County, and City of Hermiston), as well as federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention , to safeguard the local community and protect the environment as they store and dispose of these chemical weapons.The Umatilla Chemical Depot opened in
1941 , to prepare forWorld War II . The depot's mission was to store and maintain a variety ofmilitary items, fromblanket s toammunition . The depot took on its chemical weapons storage mission in1962 and stored 12% of the nation's stockpile. From1990 to1994 the facility reorganized in preparation for eventual closure, shipping all conventional ammunition and supplies to other installations. Today, the chemical weapons are the only items still stored at the depot.The Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility is designed for the sole purpose of destroying the chemical weapons stored at the Umatilla Chemical Depot. The facility was completed in
2001 , and the Army began weapons disposal onSeptember 8 ,2004 . As of May 21, 2008, 1,255.66 tons of GB (sarin) and VX stocks were incinerated, representing over 33.7% of the base's stockpile. [ [http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678216] - Umatilla Chemical Agent Facility - May 21, 2008] This included all of the GB agent stored at the depot, which had been contained in over 155,000 shells. The plant was in the process of VX destruction. Agent had been removed and destroyed from ton containers, spray tanks, 155mm rockets and as of May 2008, work was continuing on 155mm artillery shells. [ [http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678216] - Umatilla Chemical Agent Facility - May 21, 2008]The facility uses high-temperature
incineration technology to destroy weapons, a technology employed by the Army for more than a decade, disposing of more than a quarter of the nation's original chemical weapons.The
Oregon Citizens' Advisory Commission , whose members include area residents appointed by the Governor, is a focal point for public participation in the Army's weapons storage and disposal program in Umatilla.The Umatilla Chemical Disposal Outreach Office in Hermiston, as well as the Umatilla Chemical Depot Public Affairs Office, are open to the public Monday through Friday to answer questions and provide program information.
ee also
*
Chemical Weapons Treaty
*Ordnance, Oregon References
External links
* [http://www.cma.army.mil/umatilla.aspx Official site] Umatilla Chemical Depot - the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency
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