Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant
Encyclopedia
The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was a 15546 acres (62.9 km²) government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facility 12 miles west of Texarkana, Texas
that was established in 1942. The land was taken from the local citizens by eminent Domain from the Federal Government. The Lone Star Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Corporation
, won the contract on July 23, 1941 to produce artillery shells, bombs, fuses, boosters, and other auxiliary ammunitions items at the site. The plant produced ammunition throughout World War II, the Korean War
and the Vietnam War
. The plant was most recently operated by Day & Zimmermann
. On September 30, 2009, the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was officially deactivated as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure
.
site on the National Priorities List
on July 22, 1987. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
listed the primary contaminants of concern as tetryl
, mercury
, chromium
, and lead
. Clean up activities began on June 29, 2001 and continued until September 24, 2002. The site should be deleted from the National Priorities List in 2010.
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
that was established in 1942. The land was taken from the local citizens by eminent Domain from the Federal Government. The Lone Star Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Corporation
Goodrich Corporation
The Goodrich Corporation , formerly the B.F. Goodrich Company, is an American aerospace manufacturing company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in Akron, Ohio in 1870 as Goodrich, Tew & Co. by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich. The company name was changed to the "B.F...
, won the contract on July 23, 1941 to produce artillery shells, bombs, fuses, boosters, and other auxiliary ammunitions items at the site. The plant produced ammunition throughout World War II, the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. The plant was most recently operated by Day & Zimmermann
Day & Zimmermann
The Day & Zimmermann company was founded in 1901. Its corporate office is at 1500 Spring Garden St. Philadelphia, PA 19130.The company first came to prominence when the Hershey chocolate company contracted it to produce the foil wrapper for their Hershey's Kisses...
. On September 30, 2009, the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was officially deactivated as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
The preliminary 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list was released by the United States Department of Defense on May 13, 2005. It is the fifth Base Realignment and Closure proposal generated since the process was created in 1988. It recommends closing 33 major United States military bases and...
.
Today
The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was officially deactivated September 30, 2009, completing its mission of providing ammunition to soldiers and warfighters for almost 70 years. Future plans include directing the I-69 Corridor through the facility once the property has been transferred thru the local community.Environment
The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was listed as a SuperfundSuperfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
site on the National Priorities List
National Priorities List
The National Priorities List is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protection Agency regulations outline a formal process for assessing hazardous waste sites and placing them on...
on July 22, 1987. The United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
listed the primary contaminants of concern as tetryl
Tetryl
2,4,6-Trinitrophenylmethylnitramine commonly referred to as tetryl is a sensitive explosive compound used to make detonators and explosive booster charges....
, mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
, chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
, and lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
. Clean up activities began on June 29, 2001 and continued until September 24, 2002. The site should be deleted from the National Priorities List in 2010.