Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant

Overview

Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant sits about 12 miles west of Texarkana in Bowie County, Texas. It operated as an explosive disposal site and was placed on the National Priorities List in July 1987. The Army leads cleanup with oversight from the EPA and the State of Texas.

Three contaminants drive cleanup at this site. Two explosive compounds, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene and tetryl (N-methyl-N,2,4,6-tetranitroaniline), were found in debris at a 17-acre landfill. Nitroglycerin has been detected in groundwater at the same location.

Cleanup focused on the 17-acre landfill, designated Operable Unit 01. A remedial investigation ran from June 1990 through August 1999, and a Record of Decision was issued in August 1999. The selected remedy includes a 24-inch clayey soil cap, erosion control berms, groundwater monitoring, revegetation, and institutional controls. The cap blocks direct contact with explosives-related materials and limits rainwater from pushing contaminants into the groundwater. Institutional controls bar residential development and other incompatible land uses. Construction wrapped up in September 2002.

The site's current status shows human exposure is under control across the whole site, and contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction is complete. However, the site has not yet met all criteria for sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse, and it remains on the National Priorities List. Redevelopment may still be occurring on portions of the site. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2021, with the next one estimated between September and November 2026.

Community members can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinators or the EPA Remedial Project Manager for questions about the site. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Army Project Manager are also available.