Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility weekly project update - April 29, 2010.

The Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF) began the HD mustard Agent Trial Burn (ATB) at 1:47 p.m. today. The ATB will be conducted in the Metal Parts Furnace (MPF) and the two Liquid Incinerators (LICs). he purpose of the ATB is threefold:
• To demonstrate compliance with permit limitations for plant emissions. In other words, the plant will show it can meet permit emission limits (including hydrochloric acid, mercury, particulate matter, dioxins, and furans) while burning mustard agent in the LICs and processing TCs through the MPF.
• To demonstrate compliance with all performance standards. UMCDF aims for a Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE) of 99.9999 percent, which ensures complete destruction of the agent.
• To establish incinerator operating conditions under which UMCDF will conduct the remainder of the mustard campaign in the MPF and LICs. In other words, the ATB will determine the maximum processing rate for agent through the LICs and establish how many TCs can be processed through the MPF in one day.

The ATB is expected to take up to 60 days to complete.

Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility weekly project update - April 22, 2010.

The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) announced Monday, April 19 that it completed its mission to destroy all non-stockpile materiel declared when the United States entered into the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), an international treaty mandating the destruction of our Nation’s chemical warfare.


Weekly program Update

Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility weekly project update - April 15

UMCDF is scheduled to begin the mustard chemical agent and secondary waste trial burn for the Liquid Incinerators (LICs) and Metal Parts Furnace (MPF) soon. This trial burn will be conducted using mustard ton containers and agent, and will consist of a series of at least three test runs for each specific operating condition.

The results of these tests will be used to demonstrate compliance with permit limits, as well as establish the final incinerator operating conditions under which the UMCDF will conduct future ton container and agent processing. The trial burn is expected to take up to 60 days.

See full update

Public input sought on depot plan

Dividing up the Umatilla Chemical Depot into areas for open space plus industrial, commercial and military use as envisioned by the Local Reuse Authority is the preferred plan in a new draft study open for public comment.

The Local Reuse Authority, a board appointed by the governor, has received 16 requests from organizations interested in using the depot’s land, buildings or surplus equipment.

Weekly status update, April 8, 2010

Update on a worker's exposure to mustard agent March 17

Independent laboratory analysis of the worker’s urine samples confirmed mustard agent exposure. These results validate an earlier determination that was based on medical observation of the skin blister and a review of facility activities, records and monitoring. The worker’s skin blister continues to heal well.
A Root Cause Analysis for the agent exposure has been completed. The analysis indicated four overarching issues contributed to the event: Conduct of operations, procedural compliance, mustard agent awareness and the entry planning process. The analysis requires immediate corrective actions that will be required to return to performing less-than-Demilitarization Protective Ensemble (DPE) entries, the highest level of protection. These changes include re-education and certification of employees involved in the entry process, modifications to procedures and the work authorization process, and enhanced management oversight of entries.

An Event Review Board will evaluate the implementation of the immediate corrective actions prior to resuming less-than-DPE entries.

Meetings have been ongoing with plant employees to share information about the incident. The “agent awareness” training re-emphasizes the importance of recognizing potential agent contamination and the risks from potential contact with agent or other substances that may be encountered during an entry. Refresher training on the “conduct of operations” (defined as the culture of behavior to safely, reliably and efficiently operate the facility) reaffirms that situational awareness must always be our No. 1 priority in the toxic areas, regardless of level of protective equipment.

Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility weekly project update - April 1, 2010.

The Umatilla Chemical Depot and Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCF) are gearing up for a Chemical Surety Inspection (CSI) beginning next week.

The CSI, conducted by the Department of the Army Inspector General (DAIG) every couple years, probes all aspects of storage and handling of chemical weapons both at the depot and the disposal facility. This includes ensuring all employees are adhering to Army and URS rules and regulations.

http://www.cma.army.mil/fndocumentviewer.aspx?DocID=003682669