Explo Systems, Inc., Site United States Removal Action Environmental Protection ~ ; Agency Camp Minden Webster Parish, Louisiana April 2014 This Fact Sheet will tell you about... • Current Actions • Past Actions • Future Actions • Site Background • For More Information Current Actions Two groups of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) which include General Dynamics and Al- liant Techsystems (GD/ATK), and Hercules Inc. signed Administrative Orders on Consent with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will remove and dispose approximately 3.7 million pounds of explosive material at the Explo Systems, Inc Camp Minden, Louisiana site. Per the agree- ments, GD/ATK started removing 2.7 million pounds of explosives from the site. Weather permit- ting; these activities are scheduled to be completed within the next 14 months. Within the next few weeks, Hercules Inc. will begin removing 600 thou- sand pounds of nitrocellulose, a general explosive. Weather permitting; Hercules plans to complete this action within 3 months. Approximately 18 million pounds of M6 (howitzer gunpowder) and other ex- plosive material are currently stored in 97 storage bunkers/magazines. These actions will involve repackaging of explosive materials for safe transport to disposal facilities off- site. The explosives will be packaged and loaded in accordance with Department of Transportation reg- ulations. Transport routes will be selected to mini- mize any danger to the public. Past Actions EPA has provided specific tasks at the site which include: • Identification of potentially responsible par- ties for site clean-up; • On-site assessments of explosive hazard evaluation; • Sought disposal options and alternatives for reuse/repurposing of explosive material as an alternate for disposal. Future Actions EPA will work with the PRPs to ensure the removal of the explosive material is conducted as efficiently and quickly as possible without compromising the safety of workers or the community. EPA will co- ordinate with the local entities regarding movement of materials off-site. EPA's goal is the safe removal and disposal of the explosive material. EPA will use all of its authorities to address the remaining explosive material. EPA will continue to pursue known PRPs, to persuade them to engage in addressing the remaining explosive material. Explo Systems, Inc. is no longer capable of performing the cleanup. EPA hopes to work in partnership with GD/ATK, Hercules, Inc., Louisiana Department of Environ- mental Quality (LDEQ), Louisiana State Police (LSP), Louisiana Military Department (LMD) of the Louisiana National Guard, the U.S. Department of Defense/US Army to safely and successfully im- plement this action. Site Background On October 15, 2012, an explosion in a storage bunker/magazine containing explosives at Explo Systems, Inc., Camp Minden, Louisiana, prompted attention from the EPA, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), Louisiana State Police (LSP) and other responders. The explosion shattered windows in the City of Minden, Louisiana (approximately 4 miles to the northeast), and gener- ated a 7,000-foot mushroom cloud. LSP investigat- ed the explosion and found millions of pounds of unsecured M6. LSP directed Explo Inc, to secure the M6. LSP and Explo Systems, Inc., employees secured the M6 within storage bunkers/magazines. The volume of unsecured M6 required a minimum of a 4,000-foot safe distance. To keep the residents ------- safe due to the potential risk, the town of Doyline, Louisiana (approximately 400 homes), was evacu- ated during operational hours from November 28 to December 7, 2013. In addition, the Youth Challenge Program (school) and non-essential personnel at Camp Minden were evacuated. The Webster Parish Jail at Camp Minden followed shelter-in-place pro- cedures. For More Information If you would like more information about the Explo Systems, Inc., Site Removal Action, contact: Paige Delgado U.S. EPA Removal On-Scene Coordinator 214.665.2724 or 800.533.3508 (toll-free) delgado.paige@epa.gov Jason McKinney U.S. EPA Community Involvement Coordinator 214.665.8132 or 800.533.3508 (toll-free) mckinnev.i ason@epa. gov Donn Walters U.S. EPA Community Involvement Superfund Public Liaison 214.665.6483 or 1.800.533.3508 (toll-free) walters.donn@epa.gov Karen Price Project Manager Louisiana Department of Environment Quality 225.219.3612 karen.price2@la. gov On The Web On the internet, information about U.S. EPA Region 6 and the Superfund Program can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/earthlr6/6sf/6sf.htm All inquiries from the news media should be directed to the EPA Region 6 Press Office at 214.665.2200. «>EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO) Dallas, TX 75202 ------- |