96-15453. Chemical Agent Demilitarization Facility; Construction and Operation; Umatilla Depot Activity, OR

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 30862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15453]



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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 [phone].
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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