UMATILLA — An amendment regarding the former Umatilla Chemical Depot was included in the final National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress on Friday, Dec. 11.

The Columbia Development Authority — a partnership between Umatilla County, Morrow County, Port of Morrow, Port of Umatilla and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation — has been now that the land no longer functions as an active army depot.

A portion of the property has already been turned over the the Oregon Military Department for a National Guard training facility known as Camp Umatilla, but the CDA intends to use the rest for a wildlife preserve and industrial development.

Greg Smith, CDA director, said while the Environmental Protection Agency signed off on the depot as clean, when the Army did a follow-up review out of “an abundance of caution” it determined that about 60 acres of property along the western side of the depot needed additional cleanup. Smith said the CDA is working with the Army to continue with the transfer of the rest of the depot, however, with the understanding that the Army would turn over the 60 acres later after any environmental hazards are cleaned up.

“If it’s not clean, we’re not taking it,” he said.

The $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act includes a line directing the Secretary of the Army to submit to Congress a plan to finish remediation activities on the depot within the next three years. The Army is directed to submit the plan within 90 days of enactment of the NDAA.

Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Congressman Greg Walden have provided support for the CDA’s efforts to get the Army to provide the depot land to the CDA while meeting the CDA’s three criteria: that the land be free, clean and have adequate water for development. In May, they sent a letter to Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy urging the Army to complete the remaining cleanup.

Last week, Wyden said in a statement he was pleased to see the addition about the depot in the final defense bill.

“This development marks a major step forward for Umatilla and Morrow counties, which have been working in good faith with the Oregon National Guard to transfer the historic Chemical Depot lands and property for multiple uses in Eastern Oregon,” Wyden said. “I’m proud to have worked with Senator Merkley on legislation to hold the government accountable and complete the cleanup work so National Guard members can train, and neighboring properties are protected for cultural and economic uses.”

Smith said the CDA continues to make progress on clearing the final hurdles for transfer, which include sign-offs from a long list of federal government offices that have sometimes been slow to respond. Smith said in the past the Army’s Base Realignment and Closure department had handled interfacing with the various agencies, but lately he has found great success by reaching out to people in those agencies directly.

“It’s really broken the log jam. I just call them up, and they don’t know who I am, but I introduce myself and say, ‘Do you know you’ve been sitting on this document for six months?’” he said.