July 4, 2018

Louisiana Environmental Protection Agency

The Louisiana Military Department (LMD) is posting the redacted, Comprehensive Performance Test plan (CPT) to their website at Exit. The document describes the tests to be performed to demonstrate the Contained Burn System is in compliance. This document is currently under review by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and contains Confidential Business Information (CBI). The CBI claim is made by the LMD’s contractor. Examples of CBI in the document might include system design parameters and system schematics. If you have feedback regarding this document, please email EPA at by May 12, 2016.

Site Background

In 2012, an explosion occurred at the Explo Systems, Inc. operations within Camp Minden. The Louisiana State Police, the primary emergency response authority in Louisiana, responded and discovered large quantities of explosive and propellant materials improperly stored at Camp Minden. The Louisiana State Police immediately ordered Explo Systems, Inc. to store materials providing protection from the weather (heat, rain, cold) conditions. Weather conditions have a direct impact on the stabilizer used in explosives and propellants, and cause the stabilizer to deteriorate.

After completing the relocation of materials into enclosed structures (buildings and bunkers) within Camp Minden, Explo Systems, Inc. filed bankruptcy and abandoned the materials in August 2013. The Louisiana National Guard (Military Department) took ownership of the abandoned materials located on their property (Camp Minden).

In April 2014, EPA signed Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with Hercules, Inc. to conduct a CERCLA removal action for about 3 million pounds of materials associated with previous ownership. This activity will be completed by June 2015.

On October 28, 2014, a CERCLA settlement agreement negotiated by Department of Justice was signed by EPA, LDEQ, Louisiana National Guard and Department of Army. The agreement was effective on November 4, 2015. On March 18, 2016, EPA issued a modification of the CERCLA Time-Critical Removal Action memorandum for Camp Minden. The amended action memo allowed alternative technologies to be considered in disposing of material abandoned by Explo and left deteriorating at the site.

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, remediation is on-going.

Current Actions

Foundations for the Contained Burn System (CBS) are being prepared at Camp Minden. The crews have been preparing the soil, framing the slabs, and pouring the concrete. Roads on the Camp are also being surveyed and widened to allow for the delivery of the contained burn chamber. The 100 feet long and 23 feet in diameter chamber is expected to be delivered to the Camp after the first week in January 2016. The construction of the chamber and the various components of the pollution abatement system are on schedule. The components will soon be delivered and staged for installation at the Camp. The control room, air monitoring trailers, and other support structures are also being assembled.

The State of Louisiana entered into a contract with Explosive Service International (ESI) on June 17, 2015, to conduct the destruction of approximately 15, 687, 247 pounds of M6 propellant and approximately 320, 890 pounds of Clean Burning Igniter currently stored at Camp Minden, in Minden.

Source: www.epa.gov