A chemical operations crew from the Umatilla Chemical Depot separate rocket motor and warhead sections on nine M55 rockets that were sent to an Army lab in Picatinny, N.J., for propellant sampling and analysis. Download High-Res Image

The Umatilla Chemical Depot (UMCD) is one of six Army installations in the United States that currently store chemical weapons. The chemical weapons stored at the depot consist of various munitions and ton containers containing GB or VX nerve agents or HD blister agent. The Army is working in partnership with Oregon state and local government agencies, as well as federal agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to safeguard the local community and protect the environment as we store and dispose of these chemical weapons. The Army has safely stored approximately 12 percent of the nation's original chemical weapons at the Umatilla Chemical Depot since 1962.

The UMCD opened in 1941. The depot's mission was to store and maintain a variety of military items, from blankets to ammunition. The depot’s mission, however, changed in 1962 to include the safe storage of chemical weapons. From 1990 to 1994 the facility 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 Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (UMCDF) was designed for the sole purpose of destroying the chemical weapons stored at the UMCD. The facility was completed in 2001, and the Army began weapons disposal in 2004.

UMCDF uses high-temperature incineration technology to destroy weapons. This technology has been used by the Army for more than a decade, safely and successfully disposing of more than a half of the nation's original chemical weapons.

Safety and Security

The safety of workers, the public and the environment are paramount to the success of the chemical weapons disposal mission. The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA) oversees the secure storage of chemical munitions to ensure that they are safe.

Once munitions are slated for disposal, they are transported, treated and disposed of following strict internal processes and regulatory requirements. The CMA is committed to creating a safer tomorrow by permanently eliminating the threat of aging chemical weapons to our communities and our nation.

Public Participation and Community Relations

The Oregon Citizens' Advisory Commission, whose members include area residents appointed by the governor, is a focal point for public participation in the Army's weapons storage and disposal program in Umatilla.

The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program works closely with your community and state emergency professionals to develop emergency plans and provide chemical accident response equipment and warning systems.

To learn more about the Army’s chemical weapons disposal mission visit the Umatilla Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office.