EPA Orders Army to Remove Illegally Stored Explosives
The EPA has issued an order to the U.S. Army to remove 15 million pounds of explosives and propellant that are currently stored at Camp Minden in Minden, La.
Camp Minden, owned and operated by the State of Louisiana and the Louisiana Military Department, has been used by a private company under contract with the U.S. Army to illegally and improperly store unused explosives and propellants. According to the EPA, the risk of an uncontrolled explosion increases as the material ages.
The EPA has found that the Army has contributed to the illegal storage of these explosive materials and has issued an order that would require the Army to remove the hazardous supplies. As required by the order, the Army will have to submit a removal plan to the EPA for approval before any items could be removed from the site.
Since the explosives pose a risk to the local community, the Army would also have to address how the safety of the disposal workers and residents in the surrounding area could be assured.
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