Chemical Depot Demolition Off to Good Start

Northeast Oregon Now
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Depot Demolition
Northwest Demolition has reached the center of the Munitions Demilitarization Building in just three weeks. However, work will get more challenging as demolition crews encounter heavy rebar embedded in thick concrete around the explosive containment rooms (upper level on right).
PHOTOS COURTESY OF URS

Northwest Demolition is about three weeks into the process of the building where chemical munitions were processed on the Umatilla Chemical Depot.

PAS Demolition
The main stack of the pollution abatement system stands alone on the east side of the plant after the removal of red iron that supported pollution abatement equipment.
Work began Aug. 15 – after all areas were decontaminated and verified as “agent free.” Demolition is expected to be completed by February of 2014.

Northwest Demolition, based in Tigard, is tearing down the Munitions Demilitarization Building (MDB) and the associated pollution abatement systems. All the areas where chemical munitions or agent were handled or processed are being demolished. The demolition waste is being trucked to Arlington.

The support buildings and offices at the site are being preserved for potential use by the Depot Reuse Authority, which is in charge of how the depot land will be used in the future.

The depot processed 220,604 munitions and about 3,720 tons of agent between the fall of 2004 and fall of 2011. It destroyed the depot’s stockpile about six months before the international treaty deadline. The project has been in closure operations since, and the workforce has been gradually reduced from more than 800 workers to 164. About half of the remaining workers will be released when demolition is complete.