HERMISTON â The Oregon National Guard has been recognized for its cultural resources management at Camp Umatilla.
The guard received the Environmental Security Award for Cultural Resources Management for the 2020 fiscal year from the Army National Guard for its work in preserving the historical aspects of the site while upgrading it into a modern training facility.
Camp Umatilla is located west of Hermiston on part of the former Umatilla Chemical Depot. The army depot opened in 1941 as the United States prepared to enter World War II, and began storing chemical weapons in 1962. It was decommissioned in 2015, with parts preserved for Camp Umatilla, a wildlife refuge and industrial development.