The November 2014 Camp Minden fact sheet will tell you about:

• Future actions
• Current actions
• Past actions
• Site background
• Contacts

On October 28, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a Settlement Agreement for the destruction of more than 15 million pounds of military propellants at the Explo Systems, Inc., Camp Minden, Louisiana site. The Agreement is effective on November 4, 2014. This Agreement had previously been signed by the U.S. Army, Louisiana Military Department (LMD) of the Louisiana National Guard, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). The Agreement establishes the roles and responsibilities of these parties:

• The LMD will perform the work;
• The United States, on behalf of the Army, will pay for the work performed;
• The EPA will oversee the work and coordinate its review of the work with LDEQ to ensure the environment is protected.

In addition, provisions of the Agreement that deal with the recovery of past costs by EPA will be published in the Federal Register for 30 days. After the comment period EPA will finalize the costs incurred provisions. This aspect of the Agreement does not delay the effective date.

The work to be performed by the LMD includes issuing and managing a contract for the onsite controlled burning of more than 15 million pounds of military propellants. EPA selected controlled open burning after evaluating a number of disposal alternatives. The Army Explosive Safety Board advised EPA that deterioration of the propellants could greatly increase the risk of explosion in as little as a year from now.

EPA selected onsite controlled burning based on the need to safely dispose of the material as soon as possible. This approach can be conducted safely and is an established remedy for disposing of off specification explosives.

EPA, LDEQ, and LMD have and will be in constant coordination throughout the removal action. Air, water, and soil will be tested to minimize environmental impacts and ensure protection of human health

• Camp Minden Fact Sheet November 2014 (PDF)(4 pp, 57 K)