FrancesKelley

DirectorofOrganizing
935LindenStreet
ShreveportLA71104
O:225.590.7765
C:318.780.4138
frances@louisianaprogress.org

AnOpenLetterRegardingtheProposedOpenBurnatCampMinden

To:EPAAdministratorGinaMcCarthy
EPARegion6AdministratorRonCurry
EPARegion6SuperfundDivisionDirectorCarlEdlund

GovernorBobbyJindal
SecretaryPeggyHatch,LouisianaDepartmentofEnvironmentalQuality
MajorGeneralGlennCurtis,AdjutantGeneral,LouisianaNationalGuard

JohnM.McHugh,SecretaryoftheArmy
CraigR.Schnauder,DeputyGeneralCounsel,Installations,Environment&CivilWorks,
DepartmentoftheArmy

InOctober,youragenciescollectivelysignedanagreementtoconductanopenburnof
over15millionpoundsofM6propellantatCampMindenalongwiththedisposalof3million
poundsofadditionalchemicalexplosivesandpropellants.Weunderstandthatrepresentatives
fromeachagencyaremeetingthisweektoallowthefederalgovernmenttodemonstratewhyit
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chosetheopenburntraymethodfordisposalofmunitionsatCampMinden.
SincetheEPAhasnotfolloweditsownguidelinesthatmandatecommunityinvolvement
ateachstepinthedecisionprocess,thepeoplewhowillbethemostaffectedbyyourdecisions
havenotbeenapartoftheremedyselectionprocess,norwereweinvitedtoparticipateinthis
meeting.However,werefusetobeexcludedfromthesekeydecisionsthatwillaffectusso
profoundly.
Wearetheoneswhosehealthandsafetywillbeaffectedandwhosecommunitycould
suffereconomicconsequencesfromanunsafedisposalmethod.Werefusetobeleftoutofthe
process.TheEPA,theArmy,andthestateofLouisianawillnottreatthecitizensofNorth
Louisianaanydifferentlythananyothercommunityinanyotherstatewouldbetreated.We
requestthataDialogueCommitteebeformed,ashasbeendoneinothercommunities,that
wouldgivecitizensaseatatthetable.Furthermore,theEPA,theArmy,andthestateof
Louisianamustagreetothefollowing:
1) HoldthemeetingreferredtointheJanuary22letterandanyothermeetings
wheredecisionsarebeingmadeaboutCampMindeninNorthLouisiana
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January 22, 2015 letter from Secretary Peggy Hatch of Department of Environmental Quality to EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy

2) Suchmeetingsmustbeopentothepublic
3) SubjectmatterexpertsfromtheEPAwhodisagreewiththeopenburnmustbe
presentaswell
4) Localelectedofficialsmustbeallowedtoattendthesemeetings
5)Themediamustbeallowedtoattendthesemeetingstoensurecomplete
transparency
Belowaresomeofthemostimportantreasonswhytheopenburncannotandwillnotbe
allowedtogoforwardatCampMinden.Moreover,thisiswhyyoumust,withcommunity
involvement,selectanalternativemethodthatisbackedbyscientificdatatosafelydisposeofthe
propellant.

RCRAViolations
TheplannedopenburnisnotallowedundertheResourceConservationandRecovery
Actandtherearenowaiversoftheapplicableorrelevantandappropriaterequirementsdiscussed
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ineithertheAdministrativeSettlementAgreementandOrderonConsentforRemovalAction or
theRequestforApprovalofaTimeCriticalRemovalattheExploSystems,Inc.Site,Minden,
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WebsterParish,Louisiana.
RCRAprohibitsopenburningofhazardouswaste:
Openburningofhazardouswasteisprohibitedexceptfortheopenburningand
detonationofwasteexplosives.Wasteexplosivesincludewastewhichhasthepotential
todetonateandbulkmilitarypropellantswhichcannotsafelybedisposedofthrough
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othermodesoftreatment.265.382
M6canbesafelydisposedofthroughvariousothermodesoftreatmenttheEPAsMaterial
SafetyDataSheetclearlystatesthatM6MAYALSOBEBURNEDINANINCINERATOR
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APPROVEDFOREXPLOSIVES. Whenasafermodeoftreatmentexistsforamilitary
propellant,thepropellantcannotbelegallydisposedofthroughanopenburn.
InthepreambletotherulewhereEPAadoptedtheexclusionfortheopenburningof
wasteexplosives,EPAstates:
"...abanonopenburningofhazardouswasteswascontainedintheGeneralFacility
Standardsoftheproposedregulation.Thisrequirementhasbeenincorporatedintothe
interimstatusstandardsforthermaltreatmentbecausethepotentialhumanhealthhazards
associatedwiththepracticedictatethatopenburningbeendednow.Commentsreceived
ontheproposedstandardcenteredaroundthemilitary'sneedtodisposeofexplosivesin
theopen.TheAgencyagreesthatopenburningandopendetonationarecurrentlythe
onlyalternativesfordisposalofmostmunitions,andthusamodifiedandmoredetailed
versionoftheproposedvarianceforwasteexplosiveshasbeenretainedinthefinal
rules."45Fed.Reg.at33,217
Overthepast15years,theDepartmentofDefenseExplosivesSafetyBoard(DDESB)
hascertifiedanumberoftechnologiesassafeforthedestructionofhazardouswastesthatare

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-01/documents/714208.pdf
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-12/documents/final_signed_explo_action_memo_-_oct_28-2014
_v1.pdf
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http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2011-title40-vol26/xml/CFR-2011-title40-vol26-sec265-382.xml
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http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-12/documents/06-9530601.pdf
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explosive. ThosetechnologieshavebeenadoptedandarenowinusebytheDepartmentof
Defenseandtheprivatesectorforthedestructionofexplosivehazardouswaste.Someofthese
technologieswerepartofajointtechnologyassessmentprojectwhichincludedtheDepartment
ofDefense,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,thestatesaffectedbyournation'sweapons
stockpiles,andcitizensfromthosestates.Severalofthesesametechnologieshavebeenadopted
andemployedbyothercountriesfacingthechallengeofdestroyingolderstockpilesofmunitions
inEuropeandAsia.Sincealternativesclearlyexisttotheopenburningofmunitions,the
exclusionoriginallyadoptedbyEPAisnolongervalid.

CommunityexposuretoDioxins,Furans,andPCBs
Dioxinsareamongthemostcarcinogenicsubstancescurrentlyknowntomankind.The
formofdioxin(2,3,7,8tetrachlorodibenzopdioxin)thatcontaminatedAgentOrangeis
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associatedwithmultipletypesofcancerandotherserioushealthconditions. Dioxins,alongwith
itshighlytoxiccousins,furansandPCBs,arecreatedduringopenburnsofaromaticorganic
compounds(DNT,DPB)thatareintheM6throughchemicalreactionswithambientchlorinein
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theair. Moreover,theseandotherproductsofincompletecombustionbioaccumulateinthe
ecosystemandinhumantissue,includingdevelopingfetusesandnursinginfants,whoarethe
mostvulnerabletothesetoxins.Itisimportanttonotethatthemosttoxiccongenersofdioxinare
morecarcinogenicthanplutonium.
TheChlorineChemistryDivisionoftheAmericanChemistryCouncilstatesthatdioxin
andfuranproductionduringcombustioncanbeminimizedby:
1.Completedestructionofdioxinsandfuransandtheirchemical"buildingblocks"in
wastematerialduringcombustion.Thisisachievedthroughthe"3TRule":
HighcombustionTemperaturetomaximizewastedestruction
AdequatecombustionTime(usuallytwoseconds)tomaximizewastedestructionand
HighcombustionTurbulencetodistributeheatevenlyandensurecompletewaste
destruction.
2.Preventionofconditionsthatfavorformationofdioxinsandfuransimmediately
followingcombustion.Thisisachievedbythefollowingdesignspecifications:
Usea"fastquench"ofpostcombustiongasesbycoolingthemquicklyfromhigher
temperaturesthroughthetemperaturerangeofapproximately400Cdownto250C,to
avoidprolongedexposureinthetemperaturerangeknowntofavordioxinandfuran
formationand
Minimizethepresenceofcertainmetals,suchascopper,onparticulatematter,thatare
knowntofacilitatedioxinandfuranformation.
Inanopenburn,itisimpossibletodeployconditionsthatminimizetheformationofdioxinsand
furansbecausethereisnowaytocontroltheresidencetimeofthewasteinthecombustionzone,
northeturbulenceofthewastematerial,orthecoolingrate.Advancedtreatmenttechnologies
arealldesignedtogreatlyincreasethedestructionefficiencyofthewastetreatmentprocessand
tocurtailtheconditionsknowntoformandemitdioxins,furans,andPCBs.ThewastesatCamp
Mindenneedtobetreatedusingtheseadvancedtreatmenttechnologies.

http://www.louisianaprogressaction.org/2-2/317-2/
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/
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http://www.dioxinfacts.org/sources_trends/the_way.html
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Dr.GullettsstudiesonmeasuringemissionsduringOpenBurn/OpenDetonation
IntheLouisianaDEQsJanuary22lettertotheEPA,SecretaryHatchwritesthatthe
ArmyhasrequestedthepresenceoftheEPAsDr.BrianK.Gullett.Dr.Gulletthasbeen
involvedinmultiplestudieslookingatthefeasibilityofnewtechnologytoaccuratelymeasure
emissionsduringopenburnsoropendetonationsofmunitions.TheDepartmentofDefenses
StrategicEnvironmentalResearchandDevelopmentProgram(SERDP)fundedtwoofthese
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studies. InreviewingthetwoSERDPstudies,itisclearthatmuchofthistechnologyisstillin
thedevelopmentphaseandremainsunproven.Thus,thisresearchcannotbeusedtodefinitively
saythatopenburningissafe,especiallywhenthereissomuchscientificevidenceshowingthat
openburningisnotsafe.
Thestudiesownresultsandconclusionscitetheirlimitations.Forexample,the2010
studyattemptedtomeasureconcentrationsoftwoorganiccompounds,benzeneandnapthalene,
usingaremotecontrolledballoontonavigatescientificinstrumentsintotheplumeoftheburn.
However,mostoftheSummacanistersusedtomeasurethevolatileorganiccompoundsinthat
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studydidnotfunctionproperlybecauseofproblemswiththevalvesystem. The2012study
usedsimilarequipment,butdidnotdetectanyvolatileorganiccompoundsusingsmallerSumma
canisters.Theauthorswritethatthesmallersamplingvolumemayhavelimitedourabilityto
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detectthesetracecompoundsevenathighCO2concentrationsintheplumes. Such
inconclusiveandclearlyflawedstudiescannotserveasjustificationfortheopenburnofsuch
toxicenvironmentalpoisonsasDNTandDBT.
Additionallythestudiesdonotappeartohavetestedfortheoriginalsemivolatileorganic
compoundsinthepropellantitself(i.e,DNTandDBT),whichcanvaporizeaswellasforma
varietyofextremelydangerousproductsofincompletecombustion,suchasdioxins,furans,and
PCBs.Inanopenburn,multiplereactionswilltakeplacebecauseoftheuncontrolledconditions
andtheaccesstopotentialreactantsintheair.Studiesthatpurporttodemonstratethesafetyof
anopenburnmusttestfortheemissionsofallpossibletoxicbyproductsandmustprovethatthe
technologyusedtomeasureemissionscandosoaccurately.

DisagreementwithintheEPAaboutthesafetyandnecessityofanopenburnat
CampMinden
AccordingtotheEPAsowninternaldocumentspublishedontheCampMinden
administrativerecordpage,itisclearthattherewasevensharpdisagreementwithintheEPA,
itself,aboutthedecisiontoselecttheopenburnastheonlyremedythatwouldbeconsideredto
disposeoftheM6propellant.Thecommentsonthisinternaldocumentinclude:
Becausealternativestoopenburningareavailable,weshouldnotrequire,oreven
encourage,OBinthiscase.TheRCRAandSuperfundexperiences,andDODresearch,
showthatopenburning/opendetonation(OB/OD)isarelativelyuncontrolled,dirty,
pollutingtechnologythatshouldthereforebereservedforsituationswhenthereareno
practicalalternativesorfortimecriticalexplosivessafetyemergencies,andwiththe
understandingthattherewillbeanextensiveandcostlycleanup/remedialactionneeded
9

http://www.army.mil/article/39848/TEAD_hosts_testing_for_OB_OD_emissions_study/
https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Program-Areas/Weapons-Systems-and-Platforms/Energetic-Materials-and-Munitions/
Munitions-Emissions/WP-1672/WP-1672/(language)/eng-US
11
https://www.serdp-estcp.org/Program-Areas/Weapons-Systems-and-Platforms/Energetic-Materials-and-Munitions/
Munitions-Emissions/WP-2153/WP-2153
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atclosure,whichisespeciallytrueinthiscasewhenconsideringthevolumetobetreated
atCampMindenandthepresenceofDNT.
TheresponsetothiscommentdiscussesafewalternativesthattheEPAconsidered,butdoesnot
includeanyoftheadvancedtechnologiesthathaveDepartmentofDefenseExplosivesSafety
Boardcertificatesandarecapableofdealingquicklyandsafelywithlargequantitiesof
propellant.
Anothercommentstates,OB/ODisnotnecessarilycheaperandmoreexpedientthan
otheroptions,andwillresultinanenvironmentalmessthatsomeonewillneedtocleanup.
Althoughcheaperinitially,thefulllifecyclecostsandenvironmentalconsequencesofopen
burningcanbesignificant.
AlatercommentstatesthatthelistofcontaminantstobemonitoredmustincludeDNT
(dinitrotoluene)M6has100,000ppmDNTanddioxin(acommoncontaminantatOB/OD
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sites). Openburnsdonotresultin100%combustion,andsomeportionoftheorganic
compoundsDNTandDBPwillsimplyvaporizeorpartiallycombust,leadingtotheformationof
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numeroushighlytoxicbyproducts(dioxins,furans,PCBs)intheair.
Anothercommentstates,therearenoEPArecognizedprotocolsforairmonitoringof
openburningsites.Mostofthemethodstried(e.g.,plane,helicopter,balloons,backstops,nets,
andpansontheground)havebeendemonstratedtobemeaningless.Thismeansthatkeypeople
withintheEPArecognizethattherearenoreliabletechnologiesthatcanadequatelymonitor
emissionsoftoxinsintotheairduringanopenburn.
BecausethereissuchobviousdiscordanddisagreementwithintheEPA,allsubject
matterexperts,includingthosewhodisagreewiththedecisiontodotheopenburn,mustbe
allowedtoweighinonthescience.Thepublicalsohasarighttoknowwhatalloftheexpertsat
theEPAthinkabouttheproposedopenburnatCampMindenaswellasthenumeroussafer
alternatives.Withoutafullandtransparentdiscussionandevaluationofthescience,thesafest
decisioncannotbemade.

ThelackofcommunityinvolvementintheselectionoftheOpenBurnmethod
Everyenvironmentalexpertthatwehaveconsultedhascommentedonthehighly
abnormallackofcommunityinvolvementinthedecisionmakingprocessatCampMinden.The
intentofCERCLA(ComprehensiveEnvironmentalResponse,Compensation,andLiabilityAct)
andespeciallyofSARA(SuperfundAmendmentandReauthorizationAct)wasforthecitizens
directlyaffectedinacleanuptobeinvolvedineverystepoftheway,tobegivenaccesstoallthe
scientificinformation,andtoweighinontheselectionofaremedy.Furthermore,theEPAoften
givesoutTechnicalAssistanceGrantstocommunitygroupssothattheycanhirescientific
experts,whocanensurethatcitizenshaveaccesstoalltheinformationneededtoparticipatein
thedecisionmakingprocessinaninformedway.
AnEPAmemorandumfrom2001titledEarlyandMeaningfulCommunity
InvolvementinstructsEPAworkersthatEarlyandmeaningfulcommunityinvolvementat
removalsisimportant.Whetheritisanemergencyresponseoranontimecriticalaction,
communityinvolvementshouldnotbeneglectedorpostponed.Whileinitialcallsshouldbeto
stateandlocalauthorities,soonthereafteryoushouldreachouttotheentirecommunity,which
mayhaveahighlevelofanxietyandconcernabouthealthandsafety.Youneedtodemonstrate
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13

http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-01/documents/714976.pdf
http://www.dioxinfacts.org/sources_trends/the_way.html

oursincereconcernandcredibilityinordertosetthestageforthecommunitycooperationthat
maybecriticalduringtheresponse.ThememoalsoidentifiesasakeypracticethattheEPA
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shouldchangeplannedactionswherecommunityinputhasmerit.
Furthermore,theNationalOilandHazardousSubstancesPollutionContingencyPlan
listsninecriteriathatmustbeusedtoevaluatealternativesinremedyselection:
A)Overallprotectionofhumanhealthandtheenvironment.
B)CompliancewithARARs.
C)Longtermeffectivenessandpermanence.
D)Reductionoftoxicity,mobility,orvolumethroughtreatment.
E)Shorttermeffectiveness.
F)Implementability.
G)Cost.
H)Stateacceptance.
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I)Communityacceptance.
TheproposedopenburnclearlydoesnotmeetthecriteriaforA,B,C,D,E,andI,anditmayfail
severalothercriteriaaswell.Clearly,theopenburndoesnotprotecthumanhealthandthe
environment,itdoesnotcomplywiththeARARs,anditactuallywouldincreasethetoxicityof
thewastethroughthecreationofdioxins,furans,andPCBsaswellasincreasingthemobilityof
thewastebyputtingitintotheair,soil,andwaterwherethetoxicchemicalswillharmhumans
andwildlife.ThelackofcommunityacceptanceoftheEPAsopenburnasasuitableremedy
shouldbecleartoanyonewhohasbeenpayingattentioninNorthLouisiana.
TheEPAscommunityrelationsinthisprojecthavebeenadisaster,andthishas
underminedthepublicstrustintheEPAandintheprocess.Movingforward,theEPA,the
Army,andtheStateofLouisianamustcommittoincludethepublicineverypartoftheprocess,
includingintheselectionofasaferremedytodisposeoftheM6propellant.Nodecisionscanbe
madebehindcloseddoors.AllsubjectmatterexpertsattheEPA,includingthosewhodisagree
withtheopenburn,mustbeallowedtopubliclyweighinonthecredibilityofthescience.

Weappreciateyourcooperationinthismatter.Welookforwardtoworkingwithyouin
reviewingallrelevantscientificdataandinselectingasafeandprovenremedyforthecleanup
atCampMinden.

Sincerely,
FrancesKelley
DirectorofOrganizing,LouisianaProgressAction
Organizer,ConcernedCitizensoftheCampMindenOpenBurn

c:USSenatorDavidVitter,USSenatorBillCassidy,CongressmanJohnFleming,Congressman
RalphAbraham,LouisianaStateLegislature,MayorTommyDavis,MayorOllieS.Tyler,
MayorLorenzWalker,MayorJimmyWilliams,MayorCarrollBreaux,MayorRonnyWalker

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http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/pdfs/early.pdf
http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=a601ce771eb299f5408e58358f9b1206&node=se40.28.300_1430&rgn=di
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