[CPEO-MEF] REUSE, CHEMWEAPONS: Legislation clarifying Umatilla Depot (OR) closure

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

News Release
Congressman Greg Walden
December 14, 2011

Walden: Progress on Umatilla Chemical Depot closing
Greg Walden helps secure language to close Umatilla depot under BRAC  
- passage into law expected by end of the year


U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced that he helped secure  
language in upcoming legislation that allows the Umatilla Chemical  
Depot to close under conditions the community had long prepared for,  
ensuring that economic development and other uses for the land can  
move forward as planned.

The breakthrough overrules a decision made by a Pentagon official in  
May. The official concluded that because the destruction of weapons  
would go on past the expiration of the BRAC (Base Realignment and  
Closure) law, the depot would instead be closed under different  
protocols that would have upset years of careful balance by various  
community stakeholders.

"The people of Umatilla and Morrow counties have spent more than 20  
years and invested more than $1 million in taxpayer money to plan for  
the future of the Umatilla Chemical Depot's 20,000-acre facility.  
Working together, local community leaders developed a plan that is  
fair to all sides," Rep. Walden said.

"However, one lawyer in the Pentagon nearly upended all that work  
through his interpretation of the law. When informed of this change  
over the summer, I - along with Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley  
- worked in a bipartisan way with defense and appropriations leaders  
in Congress to that ensure the Umatilla depot is closed as long  
planned."


...

For the entire release, see
http://naturalresourcereport.com/2011/12/walden-progress-on-umatilla- 
chemical-depot-closing/

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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