Umatilla Chemical Depot 2567080 215279810 2008-05-27T14:23:50Z Rmhermen 835 {{Coord|45|50|35|N|119|26|17|W|display=title|region=US_type=landmark}} The '''Umatilla Chemical Depot''', (UCD) based in [[Umatilla, Oregon]], is one of seven [[U.S. Army]] [[military base|installation]]s in the [[United States]] that currently store [[chemical weapons]]. The chemical weapons stored at the [[depot]] consist of various munitions and ton containers, containing [[sarin]] (GB) or [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]] [[nerve agent]] or [[mustard agent]] (HD) [[blister agent]]. The Army is working in partnership with [[Oregon]] state and local government agencies (such as [[Umatilla County, Oregon|Umatilla County]], and [[Hermiston, Oregon|City of Hermiston]]), as well as federal agencies like the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] and the [[Centers 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 for [[World War II]]. The depot's mission was to store and maintain a variety of [[military]] items, from [[blanket]]s to [[ammunition]]. The depot took on its chemical weapons storage mission in [[1962]] and stored 12% of the nation's stockpile. From [[1990]] to [[1994]] 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 on [[September 8]], [[2004]]. [[As of 2008|As of May 21, 2008]], 1,255.66 tons of [[sarin|GB]] (sarin) and [[VX (nerve agent)|VX]] stocks were incinerated, representing over 33.7% of the base's stockpile.<ref>[http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678216] - Umatilla Chemical Agent Facility - May 21, 2008</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?docid=003678216] - Umatilla Chemical Agent Facility - May 21, 2008</ref> 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 of Oregon|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. [[Image:UmtllChmclDpt.jpg|thumb|right|300px|UCD Map with emergency accident zones]] ==See also== *[[Chemical Weapons Treaty]] *[[Ordnance, Oregon]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.cma.army.mil/umatilla.aspx Official site] Umatilla Chemical Depot - the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency {{U.S. chemical weapons facilities}} [[Category:1941 establishments]] [[Category:Military in Oregon]] [[Category:Umatilla County, Oregon]] [[Category:United States chemical weapons depots]]