CRANE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane Division of potential violations regarding the mishandling of hazardous waste and explosives, citing a series of failures that pose potential environmental and safety risks.
The notice was sent to the commanding officer of the massive Indiana naval installation in September, ahead of the filing of an official administrative complaint. The EPA plans to propose a $248,243 fine against the facility.
The EPA’s notice outlines violations spanning several years, highlighting systemic failures in the storage and labeling of dangerous materials at NSA Crane, the third-largest naval installation in the world. NSA Crane operates a sprawling, 98-square-mile campus southwest of Bloomington and is home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane), which manufactures weapons.
Fire Hazard Incident (2022)
The most severe incident cited occurred in 2022 when 114,729 pounds of red phosphorus stored in wooden crates caught fire. The EPA noted that the materials were stored outside for a week during high temperatures (averaging 96-99 degrees), which did not minimize the possibility of a fire.
The EPA stated that red phosphorus, when combined with moisture and heat, can form phosphine gas, which autoignites at 100°F. Regulators concluded that “Crane stored the red phosphorus in a way that did not minimize the possibility of a fire, considering the autoignition temperature.”
Inspection Findings (2023 & 2024)
Subsequent EPA inspections in 2023 and 2024 revealed widespread non-compliance with hazardous waste regulations:
- Mislabeled and Open Containers: Inspectors in 2023 found wastewater, ammunition waste, and lab waste stored without mandatory “hazardous waste” labels. They also discovered multiple open containers, including corrosive materials, a drum of explosive waste, and a 55-gallon container of arsenic.
- Improper Storage Time: Additional waste was stored on-site for 294 days, exceeding the permitted 90-day storage period by more than three times.
- Volatile Materials Mixed: Regulators warned that NSA Crane failed to separate potentially volatile materials, a failure that could trigger an unintended fire or the release of toxic gas.
- Emergency Plan Failures: The 2023 inspection revealed that “all three emergency coordinators listed in Crane’s contingency plans were retired,” and the installation had not submitted its most recent emergency plan to local police, fire departments, and hospitals.
- Continued Issues (2024): A follow-up inspection in 2024 confirmed persistent issues, including more examples of mislabeled waste and the improper storage of about 20,000 pounds of aluminum powder.
An EPA spokesperson told I-Team 8 that the agency “does not comment on pending enforcement actions,” but stated they “will first focus on obtaining compliance through a negotiated resolution.”
