OTTAWA -- The federal government is set to announce an action plan on how it will grapple with the raging controversy over toxic chemicals sprayed at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.

Steve Jurgutis, spokesman for Defence Minister Bill Graham, said a "plan to move forward" will be released in coming weeks.

But because details are still in the works, Jurgutis couldn't say if compensation structures for soldiers or civilians exposed to the deadly Agent Orange are part of the proposal.

"It will help to have a clearer understanding of where we're at and where we go forward with this entire thing," he said. "It will address issues that relate to the safety concerns, past concerns as well as present concerns, if there are any."

A group of senior cabinet ministers -- Graham, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri and New Brunswick's regional minister Andy Scott -- have been quietly meeting on the issue.

Federal officials faced the angry wrath of veterans and neighbours during a public meeting on the base in late June, when the government was accused of trying to whitewash the scope of sprays and related health hazards.

Veterans Affairs spokesman Janice Summerby said the department has been inundated with 688 inquiries since Sun Media's Greg Weston revealed in May that the federal government had settled a pension claim from a veteran who fell ill due to exposure to Agent Orange. Summerby could not say how many new claims for compensation have been filed to date.

New Brunswick MLA Jody Carr, who has been pressing for an independent review of the past and present dangers, criticized the government for dragging its heels on the issue as sick soldiers and civilians suffer and die. Patience is wearing thin and those affected want action instead of more bureaucracy, he said.