Oregon fines Hermiston chemical depot contractor $111,000

HERMISTON, Ore. -- The state of Oregon has fined the contractor operating the incinerator at the Umatilla Chemical Depot $111,000 for violations of hazardous waste and air contaminant discharge permits.

The Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility has not incinerated any chemical weapons agent or containers for 40 days while it addresses the issue.

The contractor, URS, reported the problems to the state, including eight occasions when the plant exceeded its emissions limit for carbon monoxide as it began incinerating mustard agent.

Carbon monoxide emissions are an indication that not enough oxygen is in the furnace to promote complete combustion.

The chemical weapons are being destroyed under an international treaty to get rid of aging stockpiles dating from the Cold War era.