U.S. Senator urges army to clean-up Lone Star

A U.S. Senator is requesting the army make good on it's commitment to clean-up a former ammunitions facility in East Texas.

The site has been designated for redevelopment and officials say projects are being hindered by the lack of clean-up.

Nearly 8,900 acres of Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant was transferred to the TexAmericas center in 2010, at least 1,100 of those prime development acres were expected to be cleaned-up by 2011.

"Some of the work has been completed, but the vast majority of it has not. The property is still pretty encumbered by permit regime that makes it very difficult to sell," said Bill Cork, TexAmericas Executive Director.

Cork says environmental restoration is key to their redevelopment efforts.

As part of the land transfer, the army agreed to clean-up the site. 

He says much of the Lone Star clean-up includes abatement of asbestos, explosives, lead-paint, and soil contamination.

U.S. Senator John Cornyn of Texas recently wrote a letter to the army urging them to make good on their promise to clean up the property.

"We don't think funding is the problem, we think execution is the problem and that's what we hope Senator Cornyn's letter will help motivate," said Cork.

The munitions produced during World War II at Lone Star created a hazardous waste that is very expensive and difficult to clean-up.

The army is currently studying the property to determine what actions need to be taken.