releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225034/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-fleming-announce-camp-minden-explosive-material-cleanup-agreement-
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20141027225034/http://www.vitter.senate.gov/newsroom/press/vitter-fleming-announce-camp-minden-explosive-material-cleanup-agreement- | Vitter, Fleming Announce Camp Minden Explosive Material Cleanup Agreement | 2014-10-22 | 2014 | 2014-10 | Republican | House | LA | David Vitter | V000127 | web.archive.org | legacy | Vitter, Fleming Announce Camp Minden Explosive Material Cleanup Agreement Wednesday, October 22, 2014 (Shreveport, La.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and U.S. Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (R-La.) announced the settlement agreement that has been signed between the U.S. Army and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on taking responsibility for the disposing of explosive material at Camp Minden in Minden, La. The cleanup of the 15 million pounds will be paid for on behalf of the U.S. Army. In the next week, the EPA will announce a 30 day public comment period to receive input from the local community. The Army confirmed to Vitter this week that a team of experts will be sent to Louisiana to assist with the initial steps. In March, the EPA directed the U.S. Department of the Army to address the 15 million pounds of abandoned explosives and propellant stored on the grounds of Camp Minden. Vitter started working with EPA offices in early 2013 for a solution and has been following up routinely with calls, letters and meetings. Click here to read letters Vitter and Fleming wrote on May 30, 2013. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Vitter is pushing legislative language that would remove any doubt that the Army is responsible and should use existing funds to address the problem. Vitter has previously elevated this issue with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Gen. Raymond Odierno, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and multiple other high level DOD officials. Last week, Senator Vitter testified to some of the details of the announcement at the Louisiana House Homeland Security Committee Hearing. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Dr. Fleming has addressed Army officials on numerous occasions, in person and in letters, urging that the Army use its resources to help remedy the dangerous situation at Camp Minden. Louisiana State Police discovered a large amount of explosives that had not been properly stored by a defense contractor, Explo Systems, in 2012. The Department of Defense was reluctant to agree that they had necessary authority. After intervention from Vitter and Fleming, the Army sent their Explosives Safety Board to evaluate and provide recommendations. In a written determination in July, the EPA finalized that the Army has the legal and civic responsibility to clean up the material. The Army attempted to reject this determination. The U.S. Department of Justice was forced to intervene, leading to an agreement between the Louisiana Military Department, the EPA, and the Army over the Army’s culpability of the remaining explosives at Camp Minden. The Army will be liable to fund the cleanup efforts. -30- | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |