The Heritage
Disposal and Storage site encompasses 27 magazines (also referred to as
bunkers) storing approximately 1.77 million pounds of explosive materials near
Alda, Hall County, Nebraska. The site formerly operated as a commercial
business that recycled fireworks and munitions into fertilizer. Business
operations ceased in 2010 and the business declared bankruptcy in 2019. A
Removal Site Evaluation performed in November 2022, documented materials in a
degraded state and noted that no ongoing maintenance was not being performed.
EPA initiated
Time-Critical Removal Action activities at the site in October 2023. Those
removal activities
involved the stabilization of explosive and energetic materials to address
their degraded condition. During the stabilization activities, it was noted
that some of the materials and their storage containers were in an advanced
state of deterioration and presented an increased risk of release and
explosion. A priority list, based on storage condition and material
characteristics, of the explosive materials to be addressed during subsequent
removal activities was developed. In April and May 2024, additional removal
activities were conducted that primarily involved the offsite disposal of small
arms ammunition, mortar candles, detonation cord, and facility-related
chemicals.
Removal
activities commenced again October 2024 and are ongoing. Current removal
activities involve the on-site thermal destruction of priority energetic
materials.
