&EPA Camp Minden Site united states Removal Action Environmental Protection Agency Camp Minden - Explo Systems, Inc. Removal Action Webster Parish, Louisiana January 2015 This Fact Sheet will tell you about... • Future Actions • Current Actions • Past Actions • Site Background • For More Information • Contacts Future Actions The safety of the public is our most important consideration. We agree the concerns of local elected officials and people living in the community should be addressed before proceeding to destroy the M6 propellant and other materials at Camp Minden. On January 15, 2015, EPA extended the state's deadline under an agreement by 90 days. EPA extended the current cleanup deadlines to allow everyone more time to consider other options and to hear from community members. In no way does this extension mean that EPA is abandoning the site or the community. We remain committed to working with our state partners to get rid of the M6 propellant and other materials at Camp Minden. Whatever remedy moves forward, we believe that local official and the public should have an opportunity to provide feedback on the remedy and any environmental and other controls they would like to see included in the cleanup. We look forward 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 facing us at Camp Minden. Current Actions The Army Explosive Safety Board experts found materials at Camp Minden to be in a deteriorated state and warned of potential self- ignition risk as soon as August 2015. The EPA, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and Louisiana Army National Guard are the response authorities managing the destruction of over 15 million pounds of deteriorating M6 propellant and nearly 3 million pounds of other materials stored at Camp Minden. The Louisiana Army National Guard issued a request for proposals for companies to bid on destroying materials at Camp Minden in December 2014. The state's bids closed on January 21, 2015. Under federal enforcement orders, three companies are also removing materials from Camp Minden. To date, General Dynamic and Alliant Techsystems have removed over 500,000 pounds of explosives and 130,000 pounds of contaminated debris from Camp Minden. These two companies are also removing approximately 2.6 million pounds of aluminum and 200 pounds of H6 propellant from Camp Minden. This work is expected to be completed by June 2015. In a separate order, Hercules, Inc. has removed over 849,000 pounds of nitrocellulose from Camp Minden. Past Actions Under federal law, EPA requires polluters to pay for their actions. EPA ordered three companies, referred to as 'responsible parties', to remove nearly 3 million pounds of materials from Camp Minden. These orders were issued ------- to General Dynamics, Alliant Techsystems, and Hercules, Inc. The work is nearly complete. Copies of these orders are publicly available (see For More Information). Explo Systems, Inc. filed bankruptcy and abandoned materials at Camp Minden. In late October 2014, the U.S. Army, Louisiana Army National Guard, Louisiana Department of Environment Quality 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 Army Explosive Safety Board made several trips to see first-hand the conditions at Camp Minden and recommended destroying the materials. EPA used the Open Burn/Open Detonation Dispersion Model developed by the Army West Desert Test Center and emission factors developed by the Army Technical Center for Explosives Safety to determine the potential air emissions from controlled open burning on burn trays at Camp Minden. Air modeling information is publicly available (see For More Information). The agreement and state's contract requires the contractor to meet state and federal environmental requirements to protect public health. The award requires the contractor to conduct extensive monitoring before, during and after their work. EPA and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will conduct independent monitoring during the destruction of materials at Camp Minden. Monitoring information will be publicly available (see For More Information). 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. This work was completed before Explo Systems, Inc. filed for bankruptcy. Today, there are approximately 15 million pounds of deteriorated M6 propellant, 320,000 pounds of CBI, and other materials stored in 97 storage bunkers were abandoned at Camp Minden. Camp Minden is almost 15,000 acres in size and located in Webster Parish, Louisiana. The facility was formerly known as the Louisiana Military Ammunition Plant which is a National Priorities List Superfund site primarily because of problems caused by groundwater contamination and remediation is on-going. 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 Region 6 1445 Ross Ave. (6SF-VO) Dallas, TX 75202 ------- |