Sole maker of gunpowder for U.S. military remains offline two years after massive explosion

[rangerrebew]

Sole maker of gunpowder for U.S. military remains offline two years after massive explosion
Sunday, April 30, 2023 by: JD Heyes
 
Image: Sole maker of gunpowder for U.S. military remains offline two years after massive explosion
(Natural News) The sole manufacturer of gunpowder in the United States remains offline more than two years after the Louisiana-based facility exploded, putting U.S. national security at risk even as the world becomes a much more dangerous and volatile place.

“Nearly two years ago, an errant spark inside a mill caused an explosion so big it destroyed all the building’s equipment and blew a corrugated fiberglass wall 100 feet” at the Minden, La., plant, The Wall Street Journal reported this week. “It also shut down the sole domestic source of an explosive the Department of Defense relies on to produce bullets, mortar shells, artillery rounds and Tomahawk missiles.”

The makeshift facility produces black powder, the original form of gunpowder, which is a highly combustible substance with numerous military applications. Black powder is an irreplaceable component used in small quantities to ignite more potent explosives in munitions, the report continued.

https://www.naturalnews.com/2023-04-30-maker-of-gunpowder-massive-explosion.html#

[Elderberry]

The Minden Plant was not a manufacturer of Black Powder.

Camp Minden was where unused and deteriorating powders (especially M6) were destroyed.

GOEX Powder remains the only U.S. manufacturer of black powder.

https://www.epa.gov/la/camp-minden-questions-and-answers#7

Camp Minden Questions and Answers

•   Describe the situation at Camp Minden in Webster Parish, Louisiana
•   How dangerous are current conditions at Camp Minden?
•   What is M6 propellant?
•   Is the material/propellant starting to degrade?
•   What happens if the material self-ignites?
•   How is the dangerous situation at Camp Minden being addressed?
•   Why is the material being destroyed at Camp Minden?
•   Will there be a residue after the propellant burns?
•   What measures are in place to ensure the disposal method is protective of human health and the environment?
•   How much will it cost to address the explosive materials located at Camp Minden?
•   What happens after the Louisiana National Guard awards the contract to destroy the material at Camp Minden?
•   Who will monitor the contractors work to ensure protectiveness?
•   Who will monitor the contractors work to ensure effectiveness and efficiency?
•   What is the next step to permanently address the dangerous situation at Camp Minden?

Describe the situation at Camp Minden in Webster Parish, Louisiana

Over 15 million pounds of deteriorating M6 propellant and about 320,000 pounds of clean burning igniters could self-ignite causing a catastrophic explosion as they become more unstable. Explo Systems, Inc. failed to recycle the materials and improperly stored materials exposed to weather which hastened the decomposition of the stabilizing material in the propellant. Explo Systems, Inc. filed bankruptcy and abandoned the material at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. The Louisiana National Guard (Military Dept.) took ownership of the abandoned materials on the property (Camp Minden).
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How dangerous are current conditions at Camp Minden?

The Department of Army Explosive Safety Board experts found materials to be in a severely deteriorated state and warned of potential self-ignition risk as soon as August 2015. The deteriorated M6 propellant and clean burning igniters have been moved into buildings to protect them from the weather in an effort to slow decomposition of the stabilizing material in the propellant.
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What is M6 propellant?

The largest amount of material remaining to be disposed of at Camp Minden is M6 propellant.  M6 is composed mainly (87%) of nitrocellulose which is a flammable solid.  M6 also contains 10% dinitrotoluene which is used in the production of explosives as a gelatinizing and waterproofing agent.  The remaining 3% is mainly dibutyl phthalate which is typically used to help make plastics soft with a small fraction of diphenylamine.  M6 burns at over 5000 degree Fahrenheit and results in small amounts residual material remaining in the burn pan along with the air emissions released from the burn.
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Is the material/propellant starting to degrade?

The Army Explosives Safety Board advised that deterioration of M6 propellant could greatly increase the risk of explosion over time.
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What happens if the material self-ignites?

An uncontrolled catastrophic explosion would occur should the M6 propellant and clean burning igniters self-ignite at Camp Minden in Webster Parish. In 2012, a portion of the material self-ignited and exploded causing damage in the surrounding area.
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How is the dangerous situation at Camp Minden being addressed?

The abandoned materials containers are being visually inspected for signs of deterioration and spills. Several containers of other chemicals also abandoned at Camp Minden that had not deteriorated and could be removed for disposal have been removed under a federal order.  In March 2015, the U.S. Army Explosive Safety Board experts completed another inspection of the material and reiterated its concerns about the deteriorating stability of the M6 propellant.
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Why is the material being destroyed at Camp Minden?

Camp Minden is a large facility and is almost 15,000 acres in size.  The size of the property and location provides for a large buffer zone and additional safety exclusion zone between the burn area and the facility boundary which is over 1 mile away. The abandoned material has severely deteriorated and off-site transportation for permanent destruction is too dangerous.
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Will there be a residue after the propellant burns?

Yes. The contractor selected by Louisiana Army National Guard will be responsible for collecting residue and sampling it to determine the appropriate disposal method.