UMATILLA COUNTY, Ore.- Igloos at the former U.S. Army Umatilla Chemical Depot are now available to lease.
The Columbia Development Authority (CDA) held an open house for those interested in leasing one of the former storage bunkers about 10 miles outside Hermiston on November 6.
“This is a great opportunity for people to have access to the land and take advantage of this asset at the local level,” said Greg Smith, Executive Director of the CDA.
Igloos are 80-foot-long, 30-foot-wide storage bunkers with 14-foot rounded ceilings and 5-foot by 10-foot steel doors. The igloos are temperature-controlled and come with single and double doors.
There are 1,001 igloos at the former Chemical Depot, 20 of which are now available for lease to individuals or businesses.
“We’re starting with 20 to work any kinks out of the program,” said Smith. “Those are available on a first-come-first-served basis concerning single or double doors and more may be made available in the future.”
The igloos will cost $300 a month to lease, with a minimum 1-year term. A $1,000 refundable cleaning deposit is required; renters must also have proof of a general liability policy in the minimum amount of $100,000.
Several potential renters attended the open house, looking into the igloos for storage purposes for anything from boats and RVs to the opportunity to empty out trailers and other storage units.
“I’m planning to use it for general storage,” said Skip Smith, of Hermiston, who was impressed by the comparable price to traditional mini storage and signed a lease at the open house. “I’ll be able to get all my stuff in here and still have room.”
Traditional military ordnance and chemical weapons were housed at the site while it was in operation. At its peak, the Umatilla Chemical Depot stored about 12 percent of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile.
The last of the chemical weapons at the depot were incinerated in 2011, and igloos available to lease for commercial or industrial uses have been thoroughly cleaned and cleared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“It’s exciting that the land is going to be opened up for the benefit of the public, that’s what the CDA is all about,” said Smith.
Those interested in leasing an igloo should contact the CDA at columbiadadirector@gmail.com.
