Badger Army Ammunition Plant

Badger Army Ammunition Plant was a government owned, contractor operated propellant manufacturing facility located in Sauk County, Wisconsin, near Baraboo and roughly 35 miles northwest of Madison. Originally known as the Badger Ordnance Works, the installation was established in the early 1940s, with production beginning in 1943 to supply nitrocellulose based propellants during World War II. The plant was reactivated for the Korean conflict and again during the Vietnam era, and at its peak it was among the largest munitions production sites in the country. Production operations ceased in 1975, and the Army moved to decommission the roughly 7,400 acre facility in the late 1990s. The site has since been cited within the Defense Environmental Restoration Program as among the most contaminated military properties in Wisconsin.

Decades of propellant manufacturing, waste burning and disposal left a number of areas across the property affected by solvents, explosive compounds and metals. Investigations have documented dozens of contaminated areas, and environmental sampling has identified several substances that have been associated with potential health concerns. The discussion below summarizes the contaminants documented at the installation and the hedged concerns that have been raised about them.

1. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and chlorinated solvents. TCE, along with carbon tetrachloride and chloroform, was associated with industrial degreasing and propellant production processes at the plant. Groundwater beneath the site has been found to contain these chlorinated solvents, and a plume reported to extend roughly three miles from the Propellant Burning Grounds reached private drinking water wells and the Wisconsin River. Exposure to these solvents has been associated in some studies with concerns about effects on the liver, kidneys and the development of certain cancers.
2. Explosive and propellant compounds. Dinitrotoluenes (DNT) and related propellant residues were generated during manufacturing and waste handling at the installation, including at the Propellant Burning Grounds. These compounds have been detected in groundwater above Wisconsin enforcement standards in monitoring wells on and near the site, and concerns have been raised about potential long term exposure through drinking water.
3. Other solvents and process chemicals. In addition to TCE, carbon tetrachloride and chloroform were among the solvents documented in site groundwater. These volatile organic compounds have been associated with potential effects on the central nervous system and internal organs, prompting ongoing monitoring of nearby wells.
4. Heavy metals. Toxic metals including lead and cadmium were associated with manufacturing and disposal areas, and mercury contaminated sediments have been identified as part of the cleanup work. Heavy metals have been associated with concerns about potential effects on the kidneys, nervous system and other organs, depending on the level and duration of exposure.

The former Badger Army Ammunition Plant has not been placed on the National Priorities List. Instead, cleanup has been managed under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit jointly issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, with the U.S. Army responsible for environmental restoration. Remediation has addressed groundwater plumes, contaminated soils and sediments, and the total cost of cleanup is expected to exceed $250 million, with monitoring and remedial work continuing over time.

Veterans who served at or near Badger Army Ammunition Plant may wish to stay informed about ongoing environmental investigations and cleanup updates for the site. Anyone with questions about possible exposures and related health concerns is encouraged to discuss their service history with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which can provide current guidance on health resources and any benefits for which they may be eligible.