Public Notice: Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Middletown, Iowa

Summary

Public Notice of Emergency Permit

In order to address an imminent and substantial endangerment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7, 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219, has issued the following emergency permit to store hazardous waste at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) in a location not covered by their effective Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit.

Emergency Permittee: United States Department of the Army

Location of Permitted Facility:  Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, 17571 Des Moines County Highway 79, Middletown, IA 52638-5000

EPA RCRA ID#: IA7213820445

Description of Wastes: Lead azide hazardous waste that exhibits the characteristic of reactivity (energetic) and exhibits the characteristic of toxicity for lead.

Activity Authorized by Emergency Permit: An oral approval of this emergency permit was issued by EPA on April 2, 2026. This written emergency permit was issued for the storage of lead azide hazardous waste in place at a location not covered by the effective RCRA permit.

Reason Emergency Permit Is Necessary: IAAAP’s existing RCRA permit authorizes treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste in hazardous waste management units at the facility. However, the storage of this lead azide hazardous waste is in a location not covered for treatment, storage, or disposal under the effective RCRA permit. The recrystallization of the stored lead azide has increased the material’s sensitivity to friction and shock. This emergency permit is required to protect human health and the environment, establish safe storage procedures, and to authorize the immediate storage of this hazardous waste in-place to safely manage the explosive hazard, and mitigate the imminent threat to the surrounding community and the environment. 

Date Permit Issued: April 2, 2026

Permit Effective Dates: April 2, 2026, through June 30, 2026

The Administrative Record for this action is available for review for 45 days at the following locations during normal business hours:

Burlington Public Library
210 Court Street
Burlington, IA  52601
319-753-1647

EPA Region 7 Records Center
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
1-800-223-0425

For more information, please contact Patricia Murrow, EPA project manager, at 913-551-7627; or Patrick Hurley, EPA community involvement coordinator, at 913-551-7202.

Applicants or Respondents