PORT TOWNSEND — Naval Magazine Indian Island, which has long received, stored and issued ordnance to the Navy and Marines, is designed not to be a risk beyond its gates, the base’s commander said Monday.
“I can tell you that Indian Island does not pose a risk to the community,” said Cmdr. George Whitbred, 42, the youngest candidate for promotion to captain in the U.S. Navy.
Whitbred, who addressed more than 50 attending the weekly Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Fort Worden State Park Commons, said depleted uranium on the base is “to be phased out” of the Navy’s munitions inventory altogether.”
He echoed comments made last week by his boss, Rear Adm. James Symonds, commanding officer of Navy Region Northwest in Silverdale.
Depleted uranium is a waste product of the uranium enrichment process and contains less than one-third as much uranium-235 and uranium-234 isotopes as natural uranium.
