UMATILLA CHEMICAL DEPOT
For Public Review
Amendment to Programmatic Agreement regarding the mitigation of Historic Properties being transferred out of federal control at the 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 under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act and final closure occurred 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 impacted by property transfer. 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 mitigation measures to reduce harm to historic properties.
In 2013 the Army signed a Programmatic Agreement (PA) with State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) outlining the Section 106 process for the UMCD. The Parties decided to address mitigation of any adverse affects after the completion of an archaeological survey with an amendment to the 2013 PA. The completed archaeological survey results were provided to all interested 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 underwent a lengthy consultation process to determine appropriate measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate the adverse effects to the identified properties.
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 July 15, 2021 and ends August 16, 2021. Submit written comments to Michele Lanigan, 503-428-4082, 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 August 16, 2021.
