Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant

The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was a government-owned munitions load, assemble, and pack facility located about 12 miles west of Texarkana in Bowie County, Texas. Established in 1942 on roughly 15,546 acres, the plant was operated under contract (initially by the Lone Star Defense Corporation, a subsidiary of B. F. Goodrich) to manufacture artillery shells, bombs, fuses, boosters, and other auxiliary munitions. It produced ammunition through World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, supporting the Army's mission for nearly 70 years. The plant was officially deactivated on September 30, 2009. Like many older ordnance installations, decades of munitions handling, loading, and disposal left a legacy of environmental contamination that drew federal attention.

Veterans and former workers who served at or near the plant have raised concerns about potential exposure to explosive compounds and heavy metals associated with munitions production and the disposal of explosives by detonation. The following contaminants have been documented at the site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

1. Tetryl and other explosive compounds: Tetryl is a chemical explosive that was used as a booster charge in munitions. At this base, tetryl, along with nitroglycerin and TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), was detected in soil at the Old Demolition Area, where explosives were disposed of by detonation. Exposure to certain explosive compounds has been associated with effects on the skin, blood, and other systems in some studies.
2. Heavy metals: Lead, mercury, chromium, zinc, manganese, and arsenic were identified in soil, sediment, and groundwater at the site. These metals were associated with primers, tracers, and other munitions components handled at the plant. Long-term exposure to certain heavy metals has been associated with a range of potential health concerns affecting the nervous system, kidneys, and other organs, depending on the metal and the level and duration of exposure.

The Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was placed on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL), the federal Superfund program, on July 22, 1987, primarily for soil contaminated with tetryl, mercury, chromium, and lead. Cleanup activities were carried out, with documented remediation work taking place from 2001 through 2002, and access to the most contaminated areas was restricted to limit exposure. ATSDR's public health assessment concluded that, given restricted access and the fact that affected groundwater was not used for drinking, no current public health hazard was identified. As of the most recent reviews, the site remains on the NPL, and the EPA has continued to conduct periodic five-year reviews to confirm that the remedy remains protective.

Veterans who served at the Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant and have questions about possible exposure are encouraged to stay informed about their service history and to discuss any health concerns with their physician or with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA can provide current information on benefits, registries, and screening options that may be relevant to military environmental exposures.