Army signs on the dotted line
By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 5th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – The Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot land agreement has been reached. County Commissioner John Shafer said he got word Wednesday that the U.S. Army has signed the document that turns over the land to the Columbia Development Authority. The closing is scheduled for Jan. 24.
It’s been more than a decade since area stakeholders developed a redevelopment plan under the Base Realignment and Closure Act. Destruction of the chemical weapons at the depot were completed in 2011 and the base was formally closed in 2012.
The Columbia Development Authority is comprised of representatives from Umatilla and Morrow counties, the ports of Morrow and Umatilla, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Oregon National Guard. Those groups are now working in earnest on plans for the more than 17,000 acres that formerly housed chemical weapons.
Those plans include a wildlife refuge and preservation of historical sites. There is also a portion of land near Interstate 84 and Interstate 82 that is set aside for industrial development.
