Chemical Agent Demilitarization Facility; Construction and Operation; Umatilla Depot Activity, OR

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Chemical Agent Demilitarization Facility; Construction and

Operation; Umatilla Depot Activity, OR

AGENCY: Department of the Army, DOD.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This announces the Notice of Availability of the Final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the construction and operation

of the proposed chemical agent demilitarization facility at the

Umatilla Depot Activity, Oregon. The proposed facility will be used to

demilitarize all stockpiled chemical agents and munitions currently

stored at the Umatilla Depot Activity. The FEIS examines the potential

impacts of on-site incineration, alternative sites within Umatilla

Depot Activity and the ``no action'' alternative. The ``no action''

alternative is considered to be a deferral of demilitarization with

continued storage of agents and munitions at the Umatilla Depot

Activity.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its Record of Decision (53 FR 5816,

February 26, 1988) for the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact

Statement on the Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (CSDP), the

Department of the Army selected on-site disposal by incineration at all

eight chemical munition storage sites within the continental United

States as the method by which it will destroy its lethal chemical

stockpile. On February 6, 1989, the Department of the Army published a

Notice of Intent (54 FR 5646) which announced that, pursuant to the

National Environmental Policy Act and implementing regulations, it

would prepare a draft site-specific EIS for the Umatilla chemical

munitions disposal facility. In 1991, the Department of the Army

prepared a Draft EIS to assess the site-specific health and

environmental impacts of on-site incineration of chemical agents and

munitions stored at the Umatilla Depot Activity. In late 1991,

preparation of draft and final EIS's was halted pending the outcome of

a National Research Council (NRC) study of alternative technologies for

the destruction of chemical agents and munitions and the Army's review

of that study. The alternative technology studies by both the NRC and

the Army have been completed and preparation of EIS's has been

restarted. A Notice of Availability was published on January 26, 1996

(61 FR 2508) which provided notice that the revised Draft EIS was

available for public comment. Comments from the revised DEIS have been

considered and responses are included in this Final EIS. After a 30-day

waiting period, the Army will publish a Record of Decision. Copies of

the Final EIS may be obtained by writing to the following address:

Program Manager for Chemical Demilitarization, ATTN: SFAE-CD-ME,

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5401.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Environmental Protection Agency will also

publish a Notice of Availability for the Final EIS in the Federal

Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Above address, or Ms. Suzanne Fournier

at (410) 671-1093.

Raymond J. Fatz,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Environment, Safety and

Occupational Health) OASA (I, L&E).

[FR Doc. 96-15453 Filed 6-17-96; 8:45 am]

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