CDA moves forward at old chemical weapons depot
By Terry Murry on Friday, February 6th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – The lawsuit Umatilla County brought against the Columbia Development Authority is settled as the five members of the CDA complete signing off on the deal.
Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer said the county tried several times to work out an agreement once land for economic development was taken from the county and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and filing the lawsuit was the last resort. The settlement returns economic development land to both entities.
The other members of the CDA are the Port of Morrow, Morrow County, and the Port of Umatilla.
Shafer, who is the county’s representative on the CDA board, said things have been happening on the land in spite of the problems.
“If you drive out there right now, you’ll see a road being built,” he said. “That’s an access road. It comes off of Lamb Road and I-82. With that access road we’re going to be able to start developing the land.”
Shafer talked in depth about the Columbia Development Authority on the KUMA Coffee Hour Thursday. You can hear a podcast of that Feb. 5 broadcast at Coffee Hour Podcast clips – Omny.fm.
File photo of Commissioner Shafer
