7/5/11: Notice of Meeting: Umatilla Army Depot Re-Use Authority - REVISED time

Updates Posted here

Notice of Meeting on July 7th

Updated Depot Information - Jun 17, 2011

 

UMADRA-LRA Votes Unanimously to Adopt the Redevelopment Plan

On July 29, 2010 members of the Umatilla Army Depot Reuse Authority met at the Port of Morrow in Boardman, OR to provide final comment and vote to adopt the UMCD Redevelopment Plan and HUD Application they have been working on since January of last year. The UMADRA, the multi-jurisdictional Land Redevelopment Authority (LRA), is officially comprised of five public bodies:

Umatilla County
Morrow County
Port of Umatilla
Port of Morrow
Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

The twelve member LRA is supported by two ex-officio members, both representing state government: the Governor’s Office and the Oregon Department of the Military.

In a final unanimous vote, the group adopted the UMCD Redevelopment Plan and HUD Application. The final plan identifies the best land reuse strategy developed by the UMADRA. The Dana Mission Support Team (Dana Engineering Inc. and MSE Technology Applications) has provided support and guidance to the LRA since July of 2009. Support includes administrative, engineering assessments, environmental assessments, land and facilities assessments, socio and economic assessments, market surveys, and area homeless assessments. DMST provided the background support and assisted the LRA in processing that information to make the, sometimes very difficult, decisions necessary to come to consensus and develop the final plan.

The plan includes: over 5, 000 acres slated for wildlife refuge and habitat protection, more than 7, 000 acres for use by the Oregon National Guard for training grounds and facilities, an estimated 1, 077 acres for highway commercial/industrial uses, and over 2, 000 acres of industrial grounds with approximately 942 acres of that property restricted to help preserve wildlife habitat that is presently in the area. In addition over 600 acres has been identified as agricultural use with the intent that it can later be used as negotiating property to support the City of Irrigon in their quest to increase their industrial area within their Urban Growth Boundary.

As part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) regulations the UMADRA had to follow, they also developed a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) assessment and support plan to assist the homeless service providers in the area. Included within this portion of the plan, the Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) will receive two igloos for the storage of supplies under a long-term no-cost lease. And both CAPECO and the Agape House, which is a faith-based mission serving individuals in crisis in Umatilla and Morrow counties, will receive several thousand dollars worth of personal properties such as tools, furniture, and equipment that will help to support their missions in the community.

The UMCD Redevelopment Plan and HUD Application will be sent to the Secretary of Defense and the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington D.C. after minor edits have been incorporated. It is estimated to be sent early in August.

The DMST wishes to congratulate the UMADRA-LRA on a job well done. The long and arduous task of identifying the best use of the property while keeping the goals of economic development, environmental protection, and military support at the forefront often meant negotiating and conceding individual agency desires for the property. “You have come a long way and are to be commended on your commitment to provide the best strategy for the communities you serve,” said Don Chance, Executive Director, DMST. Rick Solander of the DoD’s Office of Economic Adjustment stated, “I am impressed by the ground you have covered over the year that I have been involved with you. For a group of your distinction, from multi-jurisdictional areas, to come together so rapidly, is a huge accomplishment.”

The final plan will be posted to this website for public viewing the first week of August. The DMST will continue to be a presence in Umatilla and to support the UMADRA while awaiting the approval of HUD and DoD. Upon approval from the federal agencies, the UMADRA will work toward implementing the next phase. See the final plan for implementation details.

Again, GREAT JOB and CONGRATULATIONS to all who were involved in this planning process.

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The Team Role

The Dana Mission Support Team is providing support and planning to the Land Re-Use Authority (LRA) for the Umatilla Chemical Depot Redevelopment Plan and Implementation Strategy.

The nearby counties, cities, ports, Umatilla Tribe, and other organizations have an opportunity to use the nearly 20,000 acres of land once the military mission for the land is concluded.

The federal Base Realignment and Closure process requires that a plan be developed that considers all of the assets and infrastructure on the land before a property transfer can take place. The Dana Mission Support Team will assist with a broader-scale analysis of the assets of Umatilla and Morrow Counties in planning for the future re-use of the land.

The Dana Mission Support Team is comprised of experts in engineering, environmental analysis, and social and economic development planning. The Dana Mission Support Team is pleased to serve as a conduit for information from the communities surrounding the Umatilla Chemical Depot to the Land Re-Use Authority.

About The Umatilla Chemical Depot

The Umatilla Chemical Depot is one of six Army installations in the U.S. that store chemical weapons. The Army is working in partnership with the state of Oregon and local government agencies, as well as federal agencies, to safeguard the local community and protect the environment as the chemical weapons are stored and disposed of. Since 1962, the Army has safely stored approximately 12% of the nation’s chemical weapons at Umatilla.

The Depot opened in 1941 with the mission to store and maintain a variety of military items, from blankets to ammunition. In 1962, the depot’s mission changed to include the storage of chemical weapons. In the early 1990s the depot reorganized in preparation for eventual closure, shipping all conventional ammunition and supplies to other installations. Today, the chemical weapons are the only items still stored at the depot.

The Depot is located on 19,728 acres, approximately 30 miles from the Tri-Cities. Safe operation drives the weapons cleanup schedule, which is in its final stages.

The Umatilla Army Depot Re-Use Authority (UMADRA) is the identified Land Re-Use Authority (LRA) responsible for working with the Army to determine the fate of the property after demilitarization and decommissioning is complete. The UMADRA is comprised of Umatilla County, Morrow County, Port of Umatilla, Port of Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and two ex-officio State Representatives.