Experts to focus on Doyline water wells

DOYLINE — Water supply wells near Doyline will be the topic of discussion and future study as five government officials travel from Virginia, Texas, Kansas, and South Louisiana to meet with local north Louisiana community members.

The experts are responding to a request by the Camp Minden Citizens Advisory Group for more information on water pollution and monitoring at the Superfund site. A public meeting will be at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center in Doyline.

At the September meeting, citizens expressed a desire to know more about both private drinking water wells and surface water on or near Camp Minden in Doyline. Some were concerned about off-post groundwater wells in areas where people, livestock or agriculture use untreated water. Others asked about chemicals used at the former ammunition plant and expressed concern they may be in surface water and bayous near Camp Minden.
Dr. Bonnie Packer, project manager from the Army National Guard (ARNG), will present proposed sampling and testing of water supply wells outside Camp Minden.

John Meyer, associate director of Superfund Remediation in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6, will listen to concerns and explain current facts, along with EPA Project Manager Bart Canellas.

Environmental Scientist Mike Miller from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and Senior Technical Analyst Terrie Boguski of SKEO Solutions will also take part in the meeting and answer questions.

The EPA, National Guard and DEQ worked together to develop the sampling plan. The EPA and DEQ will oversee the project and the National Guard will do the work at Camp Minden, a site on the National Priorities List (better known as Superfund).

The EPA Region 6 Superfund Division deals with these sites in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and works with 66 Native American tribes. This is the major office concerned with north Louisiana hazardous waste, oil pollution and the brownfields program. SKEO Solutions is a consulting firm that works with the EPA to provide scientific assistance to local community members.

“The health of the community is our top concern,” says CMCAG Chair Ron Hagar. “We thank these government officials for their work, commitment, and their desire to help. We look forward to solving these problems together.”