Eastern Oregon chemical weapons incineration closing


The Umatilla Chemical Depot will cease destroying chemical weapons in November, resulting in a loss of danger but also a loss of 650 jobs.

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The Umatilla Chemical Depot will cease destroying chemical weapons in November, resulting in a loss of danger but also a loss of 650 jobs.

The depot has been destroying weapons like mustard gas as part of a nationwide effort to fulfill treaty obligations.

“This is going to be a really big hit to the community,” Bruce Sorte, an Oregon State University community economist, said at a forum in Hermiston.

He said the annual loss will be as much as $50 million, including ripple effects.

The move will hurt business and mean the population of the area will remain flat for half a decade, Sorte said.

Read more at KVAL.com.

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