UMATILLA CHEMICAL DEPOT
For Public Review
Amendment to Programmatic Agreement regarding impact to Historic Properties as the result of properties leaving Army control
Umatilla Chemical Depot, Hermiston, Oregon
Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Division
The Umatilla Chemical Depot (UMCD), located east of Hermiston, in Morrow and Umatilla counties, Oregon, was closed in August, 2012. Of the 17,148.72 acres, 9,648.72 acres will transfer out of Army Control to the local reuse authority, the Columbia Development Authority (CDA).
Per the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Section 106, the Army is required to gather information to identify properties which will be impact by the property leaving Army control. The Army must determine which properties are listed, or are eligible for listing, in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), how those historic properties might be affected and explore measures to avoid or reduce harm to historic properties. This must be in agreement with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and consulting parties.
In 2013 the Army signed a Programmatic Agreement (PA) with SHPO and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) outlining the Section 106 process for the UMCD. As the archaeological survey had not been completed at that time, it was decided to address mitigation of any adverse affects after a survey was complete with an amendment to the PA. When the archaeological survey was completed, the survey results were provided to all consulting parties, including the Oregon SHPO, CDA, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and, advocates of the former Oregon Historic Trails Advisory Council (OHTAC).
The Army identified four locations as eligible for listing in the NRHP: the site of a 1944 Igloo Accident, two sections of Oregon trails, and Coyote Coulee, as a Property of Religious and Cultural Significance (PRCS). The parties have consulted to determine appropriate measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse effects to the properties.
The consulting parties have been unable to reach agreement on an enforceable protective covenant, therefore, the Army intends to transfer the property to the CDA without conditions. The Army, SHPO, ACHP, CDA, and CTUIR agree to amend the PA, documenting the affect and mitigation measures. The public is invited to review the PA and PA Amendment and provide comment.
A digital copy of these documents will be available for review by the general public by contacting Michele Lanigan, 503-428-4082, michele.m.lanigan.civ@mail.mil. The public comment period is for 30 days and begins on May 7, 2020 and ends June 8, 2020. Submit written comments to Michele Lanigan, 541-564-5325, michele.m.lanigan.civ@mail.mil or mail to Michele Lanigan, Umatilla Chemical Depot Bldg, 5026, Hermiston, OR 97838 no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 8, 2020.
