The legacy of the Army's Badger Ammunition Plant in Sauk County continues to show up in well water surrounding the now defunct plant.
A coalition of residents living near the old munitions plant wants the DNR to make the Army do a better job of cleaning up pollutants. But the DNR's Greg Matthews says the Army is doing its job.
Matthews admits traces of explosives, contaminates and other chemicals used in the decades of making bomb propellant have seeped into the ground water. But he says they appear in very small amounts. Parts per billion and come no where close to levels where action is required.
Matthews says all the Army can do is continue to monitor the situation and take action if necessary which he's confident they will do.
The Badger Army Ammunitions plant started production in 1943 making propellant during World War II. It would go on stand by and put back in service making the chemical based explosives again for the Korean and Vietnam Wars. It was finally shut down in 1975. But as Matthews points out it was time when no one knew what damage could be done to the environment.
The Army no longer manages the land but is still responsible for any chemical clean-up. The DNR's Matthews says the Army has been an excellent partner in making sure the ground water remains safe.