The Badger Army Ammunition Plant: What does the Army owe a community after it leaves a post/facility/site?

2015-11-22T16:56:32-05:00

The existence of an Army post, facility, or training site can be a huge economic contributor to any local economy. But what happens when the Army leaves? As we've seen in places such as Fort McClellan, Alabama, what the Army did with it's land while it was there has essentially rendered it unusable, leaving many in the local area wondering what to do next.

From World War II through the Vietnam War era, the U.S. Army operated numerous ammunition plants throughout the nation. One of these, the Badger Army Ammunition Plant located just northwest of Madison, WI is still playing a factor in the lives of local residents today, over 40 years after it closed, and the Army is still working to bring to a close a legacy of pollution. Just how far should the Army's obligation go into the future after it has closed such a facility?

Failure at the faucet: Costs, water pollution remain at closed Badger Army Ammunition Plant

Residents fret about past exposure; Army spends millions on cleanup and to provide safe water for hundreds of residents around the site south of Baraboo.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 22 at 2015 7:04 PM

2015-11-22T19:04:04-05:00

Interesting read, and in my opinion, I believe it is the Army's responsibility to clean-up any pollution and accept full accountability for the lingering after-effects of it's operations. I believe much of this could have been negated by earlier notification and prevention of residents from further locating there.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 23 at 2015 12:16 AM

2015-11-23T00:16:23-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Toxic contamination is not limited to US Army. What about the nasty/toxic water at the Marine's Camp Lejeune! "We" were not really aware of the environmental damage caused by past operations.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 2:12 AM

2015-11-23T02:12:04-05:00

I've got one just like it in Arden Hills, Minnesota I worked at for years. They have tried all sorts of things to rehabilitate and develop the site. There are multiple superfund sites on the installation, the most elaborate of which scrubs heavy metal from the groundwater. The only way they could make the site suitable for development was to dig up and replace millions of cubic feet of contaminated soil.
Personally, I would have preferred that it remained a green space, maybe a regional park. But the powers that be decided that there wasn't enough strip malls or light industrial sites.

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 23 at 2015 12:22 PM

2015-11-23T12:22:54-05:00

They are responsible under Federal law

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 23 at 2015 11:23 PM

2015-11-23T23:23:40-05:00

The song remains the same. The chemicals that have leached into the Ground are a nightmare for future Generations. Remember my Tour in Adak, Walking thru a WWII Mine Field, Impaling my Favorite Hiking Boot on an Anti Personnel Spike (Went thru the top of the Boot but missed the foot somehow). Remember the Ordnance washing up on the Beach. Remember living in Jackson Park Navy Housing in Bremerton, WA built on a WWII Ammo Dump and Fueling Station, Kids having us call EOD whenever a bomb came above ground. Old facilities that handled Torpedoes that will never be suitable for neither man nor beast. Oh Yeah.