Published: August 14, 2008 11:32 am      

Konawa Armory to change hands

Konawa — The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced recently that ownership of the Konawa National Guard Armory will be transferred to city officials during a special ceremony at 1:30 p.m. August 26.

The ceremony will take place at the armory. Armories such as the Konawa facility were cleaned up as part of DEQ’s Site Cleanup Assistance Program (SCAP). Funding for SCAP was enacted by 2006 legislation from an existing gasoline assessment.

Through that program, DEQ evaluates and remediates environmental hazards at surplus National Guard armories. The cleanups allow armories to be safely transferred to local governmental entities.

Konawa City Manager Rita LoPresto said the city has had control of the building for several years.

She said the delay in turning the building over was due to the fact the building contained asbestos which had to be removed safely.

The building is currently being leased to Jobri L.L.C. for storage, LoPresto said. Jobri is a manufacturer of ergonomic and orthopedic products and is a major employer in Konawa.

LoPresto said although Jobri is using the building for storage, there is a basement which used to be a gunnery and can be put to good use.

“I’m hoping to use the basement as maybe a storm shelter,” LoPresto said. “At this point, it would take some plans to put in an outside door and figure out a funding source.”

More than 50 armories across the state are being addressed as part of SCAP. Additional ceremonies will take place as other armories are cleaned up.

Environmental issues common to many of the facilities include contamination from indoor firing ranges, lead-based paint and asbestos. DEQ works closely with local community leaders to ensure their needs are met and these potential hazards are properly remediated prior to ownership transfer.

Cleanups are conducted in cooperation with the Oklahoma Military Department and the Department of Central Services. More information on SCAP is available at www.deq.state.ok.us/LPDnew/scapIndex.htm.