REGION
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
East Oregonian
A3
First herbicide barrel removed from Wallowa Lake
Barrels were first
found nearly 10
months ago by
recreational divers
By ERIN ROSS
Oregon Public Broadcasting
JOSEPH — The Environ-
mental Protection Agency has
begun removing potentially
contaminated barrels from
Wallowa Lake. Despite ini-
tial fears, the barrels seem to
have been full of lake water,
though the EPA is waiting for
test results to confirm that the
water and barrels are indeed
clean.
The barrels were first
found nearly 10 months ago by
recreational divers, who were
alarmed to see one labeled
with “2,4-D or 2,4,5-T.” 2,4-D
and 2,4,5-T are agricultural
EOMG photo by Ellen Morris Bishop
An “intact” barrel removed from Wallowa Lake by the
EPA-contracted dive team, Global Diving and Salvage hangs
above the over-sized containment barrel that encased it be-
fore divers removed it from the lake.
herbicides that, when com-
bined in military strengths,
can form Agent Orange.
Agent Orange was an herbi-
cide and defoliant that the U.S.
military sprayed during the
Vietnam War, with devastat-
ing public health and environ-
mental consequences.
Initially, divers reported
over a dozen large, intact bar-
rels beneath the surface, and
several others that were rusted
away. Wallowa Lake is nor-
mally the source of drinking
water for the nearby commu-
nity of Joseph. On Thursday,
officials started drawing water
from a well instead, and will
continue to do so for the dura-
tion of the cleanup. The lake is
also used by recreational boat-
ers and swimmers.
“We have now, after sev-
eral days of investigation,
determined that it was only
one drum with that herbi-
cide label, and that drum was
filled with lake water,” EPA
spokesperson Bill Dunbar said
Monday.
It’s not uncommon to find
barrels like these in lakes, says
Dunbar said. Empty barrels
are frequently used as floats
for docks, while others are
filled with sand or water and
used as weights for anchors,
and these barrels were found
near a marina. Still, that
doesn’t mean that a barrel
full of herbicide couldn’t have
found its way to the bottom of
the lake.
The EPA arrived at Wal-
lowa Lake late last week with
an ROV — an unmanned sub-
mersible vehicle — which they
used to scout the area. Accord-
ing to Dunbar, they found 69
barrels, and suspect there
could be several more, “From
what I understand, there could
be hundreds in the lake from
many decades of use.”
So far only one barrel has
been found to have a label. It
said “2,4-D or 2,4,5-T”, not
“2,4-D and 2,4,5-T.” Dun-
bar said that makes it unlikely
that it contained both chemi-
cals mixed together as Agent
Orange. The Vietnam War
defoliant got its name from the
orange identification stripes
painted on the 55-gallon
drums that it used to come in.
Those stripes were absent
from the barrel. Although the
barrel most likely never con-
tained both herbicides, 2,4,5-T
can be toxic, and has been
banned for use in the U.S.
since 1985. 2,4-D is still com-
monly used as an herbicide.
Divers later recovered the
barrel and found it had sev-
eral holes in it and was full of
lake water. It’s unclear if it was
sunk empty, or if the contents
escaped in the decades since it
was sunk.
Another barrel labeled
“diesel” was also removed.
The EPA plans to continue to
check the barrels, and remove
those with labels indicating
they could have toxic contam-
inants. The water near the bar-
rels has also been tested, as
have sediments at the bottom
of the lake. No test results have
been released.
LOCAL BRIEFING
UFO group presents in Pasco
PASCO — The eastern Washington
chapter of the Mutual UFO Network invites
the public to attend a presentation Saturday
in the Tri-Cicites.
Daniel Nims is the chief investigator
for Washington MUFON and will discuss
intriguing sightings in eastern Washington.
Nims grew up in Eastern Oregon and
earned a bachelor’s degree in engineer-
ing science at the U.S. Air Force Academy,
according to the meeting announcement.
He was a combat fighter pilot and flew the
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in
southeast Asia and later with the Royal Air
Force Lakenheath, England. He also was a
test pilot for the A-10 Thunderbolt II and
the F-16 Fighting Falcon, two of the nation’s
most successful military aircraft.
The presentation, “UFOs in Eastern
Washington?” is Saturday, 6-8 p.m., at
the Sleep Inn, 9930 Bedford St., Pasco,
Washington.
Pendleton DMV changes
hours starting July 1
PENDLETON — The Pendleton office
of the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services
Division announced it will change the
hours of operations July 1.
The DMV office at 1732 S.W. Court
Ave. has been operating 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri-
day. But come July 1, the office will operate
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Pendleton office is one of three
DMV offices that serve Umatilla County
and the only one in Oregon that opened at
8:30 in the morning. The change makes the
local office consistent with other offices
across Oregon, according to the announce-
ment, and allows for more efficient staffing
schedules.
The driver division also suggested visi-
tors first check OregonDMV.com to make
sure they have everything they need. Rather
than coming to an office, you can renew
vehicle registrations, change your address,
report the sale of a vehicle and more online
at www.oregondmv.com.
Hansell wildfire legislation
passes the Legislature
SALEM — Legislation introduced by
Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, unanimously
passed the Legislature and was signed
into law by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on
Monday.
Senate Bill 290 makes farmers, ranchers
and volunteers immune from civil liabilities
resulting from wildfire fighting efforts. The
legislation was inspired by the Substation
Fire, which burned 80,000 acres of land in
Sherman and Wasco counties last July.
“This is a good Samaritan bill for farm-
ers and ranchers to plow fire lines, and it
protects these farmers and ranchers from
liability,” Hansell said. “I am proud to have
witnessed the ceremonial signing along
with the farmers and ranchers that it will
help.”
Oregon’s fed lawmakers seek
disaster aid for six counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ron
Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps.
Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden sought
federal disaster assistance for spring storms
that hit Curry, Douglas, Grant, Linn, Uma-
tilla and Wheeler counties during a two-
week stretch in April.
The bipartisan letter from the Ore-
gon lawmakers — Wyden, Merkley and
DeFazio are Democrats, Walden is Repub-
lican — comes in support of Gov. Kate
Brown’s request for a presidential major
disaster declaration for those counties’
losses from heavy rain, snowmelt, flooding,
landslides and mudslides between April 6
and 21.
Staff photo by Jessica Pollard
Traffic was redirected around a rear-end crash involving two vehicles on Highway 395 out-
side of Hermiston on Tuesday.
Crash on Highway 395
leaves one seriously injured
By JESSICA POLLARD
East Oregonian
HERMISTON — A
two-car collision on High-
way 395 outside Herm-
iston city limits on Tues-
day sent one person to a
regional hospital with seri-
ous injuries.
The incident occurred
around noon when a 1996
blue Chevy pickup driven
by Albert Russel rear-
ended a 1989 Ford pickup
containing Zane Riddle
and Robert Riddle, accord-
ing to Oregon State Police
Trooper Sean Carothers.
Carothers said the Rid-
dles were stopped in the left
lane, waiting to make a left-
hand turn when they were
hit from behind by Rus-
sell’s vehicle.
Russell was transported
to Kadlec Regional Medical
Center via Life Flight with
serious injuries, Caroth-
ers said. The Riddles were
transported by ambulance
to Good Shepherd Health
Care System, according to
Umatilla Fire District 1.
Highway
395
was
blocked in both directions
for over an hour. Those
heading north were redi-
rected down Bensel Road.
Umatilla Landing Days
IT STARTS HERE. HONORING OUR PAST, BUILDING OUR FUTURE.
JUNE 21-22
EVENT
SCHEDULE
AT THE UMATILLA MARINA
FOOD & CRAFT VENDORS • BEER GARDEN
PARADE • DANCING HORSES • DANCERS
KIDS ACTIVITIES & WATER PARK!
FRIDAY EVENING
Grupo Viajero
&
KROME
Beer Garden Host:
The Pheasant Bar & Grill
SATURDAY
Grupo Viajero
Trespasser - 5pm
HEADLINER:
Leah Justine - 8pm
Beer Garden Host:
The Rustic Truck Bar & Grill
OREGON
MANUFACTURERS.
LOCAL BUSINESSES.
YOUR NEIGHBORS.
ALL GETTING MORE FROM THEIR ENERGY.
Here in Oregon, thousands of businesses and individuals are
saving money with help from Energy Trust of Oregon. With cash
incentives for energy improvements, we can help you get more
from your energy.
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Are you ready to get more from your energy?
Visit www.energytrust.org or call us at 1.866.368.7878.
Serving customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power,
NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista.
TRACCI DIAL
PARADE HOST
10:00am Saturday
Caballos Bailadores Rancho el Escondite Horse Dancers & Ballet Folklorico Estrella de Mexico
Dancers will be in the parade on Saturday and performing in the park right after.