Operation Bunker Sweep

Camden, AR - On April 28, 2001, an explosion occurred at the Highland Industrial Park Complex (HIP) located in Camden, Arkansas. The explosion involved a bunker that was leased by a Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL). Approximately 142,000 pounds of assorted high explosives and smokeless propellants were stored in the bunker. The explosion totally destroyed the bunker and damaged surrounding bunkers leased by several other FELs.

Immediately following the explosion, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms responded and opened an investigation. Special agents and explosives enforcement officers began collecting available evidence to include material safety data sheets, stabilizer test data, and seismographic readings in an effort to determine the cause of the explosion. The investigation revealed that two explosions had actually caused the destruction of the bunker. The initial explosion was relatively small in size and occurred at approximately 7:39 p.m. , followed by a larger explosion occurring approximately 1 minute later. Ultimely ATF could not determine the initial cause of the explosion, however there was no evidence of illegal entry into or tampering with the bunker.

In addition to the initial investigation ATF activated an operation called "BUNKER SWEEP" using personnel from the New Orleans and Dallas Field Divisions, the Arson and Explosives Division, the Department of Defense, the Arkansas State Fire Marshal's Office, the Arkansas State Police, and the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office. The objectives of this operation were to collect additional information relative to the cause of the explosion and to inspect the explosive storage facilities of other FELs within the HIP.

Of the forty-two (42) FELs inspected during Operation Bunker Sweep, four inspections remain open and require additional determinations. Several inspections involved FELs that are licensed in other ATF field divisions, but have storage facilities in Camden, Arkansas.

Fifty-three (53) violations have been documented thus far. However, this information does not include definitive violations from the four outstanding inspections. Licensing violations include the failure to notify ATF of explosive magazine changes (27 CFR 55.63); recordkeeping violations include the failure to maintain adequate magazine summary records (27 CFR 55.127; storage violations include inappropriate magazine construction (27 CFR 55.207). The New Orleans Field Division also forwarded letters to all FELs clarifying requests for explosives variances as they relate to leased explosives storage magazines.

Follow-up inspections were conducted during the week of August 27, 2001 to determine if the damaged bunkers were repaired and whether corrective action had been taken on violations disclosed during Operation Bunker Sweep. Repairs to the bunkers damaged during the explosion are underway, but have not been completed. The New Orleans Field Division will continue to work with HIP and the FELs in monitoring the reconstruction efforts on the bunkers that needed repairs in order to meet Federal storage guidelines. As of August 30, 2001, all 53 violations of the explosives regulations have been resolved. Inspection efforts are now focused on facilitating the determinations associated with the remaining four inspections.

The criminal investigation of the explosion has been completed. Due to the fact that the regulatory violations discovered were not a potential cause of the explosion, ATF and the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas agree that administrative action rather criminal prosecution is appropriate. The New Orleans Field Division will make proposals regarding the administrative action (warning letters, warning conferences, revocations) to other ATF field divisions regarding explosive violations disclosed during this operation, once the remaining four inspections are concluded. Administrative action could eventually lead to the loss of a Federal explosive license if deficiencies are not corrected.

ATF cannot guarantee that another explosive incident will not occur again in the future. However, ATF plans to continue working with the HIP and FELs to ensure that every storage facility meets the requirements.