Camp Minden burning chamber could be complete in January

MINDEN The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says a chamber for burning 7,800 tons of rocket propellant could arrive at Camp Minden by Dec. 23 and be finished in January.

Multiple media outlets report EPA met with residents Thursday to discuss soil sampling results. EPA coordinator Adam Adams says air and soil samples around the Louisiana National Guard installation came back clean except for two samples from the former Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant that showed high levels of dioxin.

Adams says EPA will continue monitoring conditions and releasing information once Explosive Service International begins disposing of the M-6 propellant.

A $35 million disposal effort began after a 2012 explosion rocked storage facilities leased by Explo Systems. Residents objected to burning material openly.

Explo Systems declared bankruptcy and its owners were charged criminally.