SEPA	Camp Minden Site

Removal Action

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Explo Systems, Inc.

Webster Parish, Louisiana	April 2015

This Fact Sheet will tell you about:

Future Actions
Current Actions
Past Actions
• For More Information...

Contacts

The safety of the public is our most important
consideration. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) strongly believes that public engagement
better informs decisions — both for the EPA and for the
community. The EPA remains committed to finding
ways to increase the involvement of local officials and
the community in the remedy as we move forward in
addressing the dangerous situation at Camp Minden.

Future Actions

The Louisiana National Guard (LMD), submitted a
contractor proposal to EPA for the cleanup of M6
propellant at Camp Minden. The recommendation of
an alternative remedy comes after weeks of
cooperation between local and federal stakeholders.
EPA is currently conducting a technical review of the
contractor proposal. Upon completion of the review
process, EPA will respond appropriately and publicly.

Once the response method is determined and
notifications are made, the contractor will provide
LMD and EPA plans for work, health and safety, and
emergency response. The work plan will include
specifics of the removal action, environmental
monitoring and sampling, etc. The health and safety
plan will address worker health and safety during the
removal action. The emergency response plan will
include what will happen in the event there's an
incident.

EPA is planning continued outreach efforts through
additional workshops and Community Meetings.

A Community Meeting is planned for mid-May.

This meeting will discuss details of the alternative
remedy. Once a date is set, a newsletter will be
mailed to the community and a notice published in
the Minden Newspaper.

Current Actions

As EPA prepares to announce a remedy selection,
citizens of Camp Minden area are attending a series
of environmental workshops held in cooperation
with LMD and the Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality (LDEQ).

At an April 16, 2015 workshop, citizens learned
various air data collection mechanisms that were be
used around Camp Minden during the cleanup.

They got to view the equipment that is being
utilized. Residents received detailed descriptions of
the equipment's functions and placement. Citizens
learned processes used to measure and analyze the
baseline standard for air quality for any potential or
accidental exposure during the removal actions.

A second workshop was held April 23, 2015.

During this workshop, residents learned basic
response preparedness including: how local officials
notify residents if an incident occurs, response
procedures, and actions citizens should be prepared
to take in order to protect their families.

Past Actions

In late October 2014 LMD, LDEQ, and EPA signed
a Settlement Agreement for the destruction of more
than 15 million pounds of M6 propellant and
320,000 pounds of clean burning igniters (CBI). The
agreement was effective November 4, 2014. On
January 15, 2015, the EPA extended the state's
deadline under this agreement by 90 days to allow
review of alternatives.

EPA announced the creation of a Dialogue
Committee to address community ideas and
suggestions on alternatives to address the dangerous


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conditions at Camp Minden. The committee was
made up of volunteer citizens, community leaders,
local and statewide organizations, scientists, elected
officials and state representatives.

On February 10, 2015, LMD notified EPA of their
plans to use the Emergency Response Procedures
set forth in Governor Jindal's Executive Order
(BJ2013-14) to request additional information for
alternative technologies from vendors by March 18,
2015.

Doyline Branch Library, 333 Main Street, P.O. Box 8,
Doyline, LA 71023, (318) 745-3800

Contacts

Citizens can call 800.887.6063 during normal business
hours (9 am - 4 pm weekdays) and by email at our
dedicated mailbox r6_camp_minden@epa.gov.
All inquiries from the news media should be directed to
the EPA Region 6 Press Office at 214.665.2200 or by
email at R6press@epa.gov.

The EPA released the amended action memo on
March 18, 2015, which allowed alternative
technologies to be considered in disposing of the
materials abandoned by Explo and left deteriorating
at the site. The amendment clears the way for the
LMD to review quotes for alternative methods and
select a company to dispose of the M6 and CBI. A
copy of the amended action memo is available at
http://www2.epa.gov/la/camp-minden.

The 90-day extension to the CERCLA settlement
agreement granted to the state by the EPA expired
on April 15, 2015.

Site Background

On October 15, 2012, an uncontrolled explosion at
Camp Minden shattered windows four miles away
in the City of Minden and generated a 7,000-foot
mushroom cloud. The Louisiana State Police
investigated the explosion and discovered millions
of pounds of chemicals and explosives improperly
stored and exposed to the weather at Camp Minden.
Louisiana State Police directed Explo Systems, Inc.
to secure these materials and immediately protect
them from the weather to prevent further
deterioration.

In August 2013, after Explo Systems, Inc. had
completed securing the materials it then filed for
bankruptcy and abandoned materials at Camp
Minden. In September 2013, the LMD took
ownership of the abandoned materials.

For More Information...

If you would like more information about Camp
Minden, visit our website at www.epa.gov/region6.

You can also review copies of information at:
Webster Parish Library, 521 East and West Street,
Minden, LA 71055, (318) 371-3080


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SEPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency


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