Umatilla Chemical Depot

The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, also known as CSEPP, strives to improve the emergency preparedness of communities located near our nation’s chemical stockpile and the Army’s chemical munitions storage depots. CSEPP is funded by the U.S. Army and overseen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This link will provide additional information on CSEPP and the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

The area of Washington state potentially at risk from a chemical release at the Umatilla Chemical Depot is the southern part of Benton County, including the communities of Paterson and Plymouth.  Benton County Emergency Management provides a quarterly update to the residents of these areas.  The publication is called the South County Bulletin and provides current information on emergency preparations and activities at the Depot.  It should be noted that Kennewick, Richland, Benton City, Prosser, and West Richland are outside of the emergency planning zone for the Depot.

What is the hazard?

Chemical Weapons have been a part of America’s military arsenal since World War I. Although the United States has not used chemical weapons, they have maintained them to discourage other countries from using them against the U.S. or its allies.

The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency is responsible for safely storing and eliminating aging chemical weapons stored in six locations in the United States and for the recovery and elimination of recovered chemical materiel. Thus far, the Army has safely destroyed nearly 10,000 tons of chemical agents, which is equivalent to about 33 percent of the stockpile in the U.S. All of the chemical weapons on Johnston Island in the Pacific were the first to be destroyed. Currently, chemical weapons are being destroyed in Umatilla, Ore., Anniston, Ala., Tooele, Utah, and Aberdeen, Md. In addition to UMCD, operations to destroy chemical weapons are anticipated to begin within the next year in Pine Bluff, Ark. and Newport, Ind.

Before destruction of nerve agent began at the Umatilla site near Hermiston, Oregon, in 2004, the site contained nearly 12 percent of the nation’s chemical stockpile and has safely stored this material since the 1960s. The chemical agents at UMCD are stored in a protected area, that is fenced off and patrolled regularly. Storage units in the area—called igloos or bunkers—are monitored daily by trained personnel with sensitive equipment that will detect an accidental leak long before it could become a threat.

There are two types of chemical agents stored at UMCD—mustard agent (blister agent) and  the nerve agent, VX. Until they are destroyed, there is a risk for people who live, work or travel in the immediate vicinity of the UMCD. The U.S. Army has determined that incineration is the safest and most effective disposal method. The incinerator built at UMCD is similar to one in Utah, that has safely operated since 1996. UMCD finished the destruction of all its stored GB nerve agent (sarin) in July 2007.  It will take nearly six years to destroy all UMCD's chemical munitions. Benton County will continue to work with state and federal agencies to maintain an emergency response plan for southern Benton County residents and businesses until the completion of the project.  Click here for the latest update on agent destruction at UMCD.

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