Explosives at Louisiana Camp Under Risk of ‘Catastrophic Auto-Ignition’

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The risk of auto-ignition of a propellant stockpile stored in unsealed containers at Camp Minden in the US state of Louisiana is increasing, the country's army said in a report filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Camp Minden serves as military training site for the Louisiana National Guard. Over 15 million pounds of unsecured M6 propellant and eight million pounds of other explosives are improperly stored at Camp Minden site, according to Louisiana state police. In October 2012, one of the 97 storage bunkers at the site exploded, prompting an investigation by EPA and other agencies.

"Given the uncertainty of the state of deterioration of CBI and M6 at Camp Minden, EPA should consider immediate disposal operations on a continuous basis during daylight hours of those propellant materials stored in compromised packaging that has gotten wet or been in high humidity or wet magazines," the report published on EPA's website said.

In a report based on March 9-11 inspections of the technical assistance team, the army recommended that the propellant in five bunkers should be destroyed as soon as possible to prevent another explosion. Other recommended measures include moving the propellant to another bunker and installing blow-out doors.

An earlier proposal by the US Army, the EPA and the Louisiana National Guard to burn the propellant outdoors encountered strong opposition from local residents amid fears that the burning would send clouds of carcinogens into the air.