&EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Camp Minden Site



Removal Action



Explo Systems, Inc.



Webster Parish, Louisiana

May 2015

This Fact Sheet will tell you about:

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

Contacts

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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
cleanup actions at Camp Minden.

Current Actions

The Louisiana Military Department
(LMD) submitted a contractor proposal to
EPA for the cleanup of M6 propellant. EPA
conducted a technical review of the
contractor proposal and approved it. EPA
announced the technology that was selected
on May 8, 2015. The technology selected is
Contained Burn System (CBS). The CBS
will provide superior protection to the
public and the environment by processing
all exhaust gases and products of
combustion, and removing those emissions
and materials of concern prior to release of
cleaned exhaust gases to the environment.

The CBS consists of the propellant being
placed in a Contained Burn Chamber (CBC)
that is constructed of high quality steel and
then burned at a high temperature for a long

enough time to ensure complete combustion.
Once the burn process cycle is completed,
the burn tray will be removed from the
chamber and a new tray containing another
batch of M6 material will be placed into the
chamber.

Residue ash will be removed from the tray
after each cycle. As a result of the contained
burn process, all residue ash is anticipated to
be non-hazardous. Prior to shipment offsite,
the ash will be sampled and profiled for
proper disposal. The operation will be
conducted on a twenty-four (24) hour basis
to achieve the daily disposal rate required.
The vendor recommends Area-I for
operations due to its secluded location.

Inside the CBC, the exhaust gases will pass
through filters, scrubbers and an afterburner
before the clean exhaust gases are released
back into the environment. Air emission will
be monitored during the operation.

Future Actions

LMD will provide EPA with 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

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during the removal action. The emergency
response plan will include what will happen
in the event there's an incident.

The CBS should take five months to
construct. According to the vendor, it will
provide a maximum burn rate of
approximately 60,000 lbs. per day. This will
provide a capability to complete the
destruction of the M6 and Clean Burning
Igniters (CBI) in less than one year
following start of operations.

The operation will be conducted on a
twenty-four (24) hour basis to achieve the
daily disposal rate required. The vendor
recommends Area-I for operations due to its
secluded location.

A Community Meeting is planned for May
28, 2015. The meeting will be held from
6pm to 8pm at the Doyline High School.

This meeting will discuss details of the
alternative technology that was selected.
Representatives from the EPA, Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality
(LDEQ), and LMD will be available to
discuss and answer your questions on
removal actions.

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
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 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.

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. 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.

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.

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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
(LSP) investigated the explosion and
discovered millions of pounds of chemicals
and explosives improperly stored and
exposed to the weather at Camp Minden.
LSP 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

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.

\>EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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