• COVID-19
  • Progress
  • eNewsletter Sign-Up
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Give Feedback
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
  • HOME
  • PEO ACWA
    • ACWA logo

      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

    • About PEO ACWA
      • Destruction Progress
      • Chain of Command
      • Team Biographies
      • Program Timeline
      • Program Legislation
      • Public Involvement
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • PEO ACWA Media Library
      • PEO ACWA News
      • PEO ACWA Videos
      • PEO ACWA Facts
      • PEO ACWA Press Releases
      • PEO ACWA Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • BLUE GRASS
    • pcapp_logo
      Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

    • BGCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
      • Hydrolysate Shipments
    • BGCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • PUEBLO
    • pcapp_logo
      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

      PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.

    • PCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
    • PCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • CONTACT US

Oversight Helps Reduce Risk at Blue Grass Plant

Published: July 15, 2015 | Category: BGCAPP News, Technology
This postcard shows the destruction from a lightning-induced explosion that occurred at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Storage Depot on the Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, on July 10, 1926. This explosion was the impetus for the formation of the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board, which provides oversight to the United States’ explosive storage and operations.

This postcard shows the destruction from a lightning-induced explosion that occurred at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Storage Depot on the Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, on July 10, 1926. This explosion was the impetus for the formation of the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board, which provides oversight to the United States’ explosive storage and operations.

July 10, 1926, was a very bad time for northern New Jersey. That was the day a bolt of lightning set off more than 600,000 tons of explosives stored at the Lake Denmark Naval Ammunition Storage Depot on the Picatinny Arsenal. The resulting massive explosion killed almost two dozen people, injured more than 50, completely destroyed 200 buildings and cost almost $650 million in today’s dollars.

Because of this explosion, Congress created the Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board (DDESB), a board that exists to “provide oversight of the development, manufacture, testing, maintenance, demilitarization, handling, transportation and storage of explosives” within the military. From that point forward, any kind of explosive operations would require ultimate approval through the DDESB.

Moving forward to modern times, the DDESB and its United States Army counterpart, the U.S. Army Technical Center for Explosives Safety (USATCES), have been strongly involved with the layout, design and construction of the Blue Grass plant and the Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) facility.

“As both of our projects will be handling and processing munitions containing explosives, we work closely with these organizations to ensure potential explosive hazard risk is reduced or eliminated,” said Sunday Street, safety engineer. “We can’t begin operations without their final approval.”

This approval depends on the review of documents called Site Plan Safety Submissions, extensive works that detail nearly everything about the main plant and the EDT project. This includes explanations of plant processes, function and operation of equipment, and layout and function of site structures. Site inspections are also an important part of the process.

“Even the windows were removed from the design of the Personnel Support Building as an extra precautionary measure, as shattering glass can cause injury,” said Del Powell, safety and occupational health specialist. “We worked with the Blue Grass Army Depot to ensure that all blast arcs (the area that could be impacted by a highly unlikely explosion) from the conventional munitions operations were removed from our site. It’s all about the safety of our workers, which is our highest priority.”

This relationship with the DDESB and USATCES is yet another example of the oversight of the Blue Grass mission to safely destroy the Blue Grass chemical munitions stockpile. These oversight organizations are important to project leadership to further enhance the safety of the project’s workers, the community and the environment.

More BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • Workers lower a 30,000-pound buffer tank into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 building through an opening in the roof. This tank will buffer exhaust gases from the destruction process of the drained nerve-agent rocket warheads before the gases are processed in the off-gas treatment system.

    New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    Published: March 30, 2022
  • Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

    Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

    Published: March 1, 2022
  • Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants decontaminate equipment in the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Since all projectiles have been destroyed, much of this equipment is no longer needed for chemical weapons destruction.

    Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

    Published: February 8, 2022
  • An operator cuts up the buffer tank from the mustard-processing off-gas treatment system at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 site Jan. 11. The tank pieces are being disposed of as scrap and a new buffer tank will be installed for the upcoming drained VX rocket warhead destruction campaign.

    Equipment Removed for Site Upgrade

    Published: February 1, 2022
  • Workers guide a stand-by diesel generator as it is lifted by a crane in preparation for placement on its foundation at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site Jan. 11. During operations, this generator will provide back-up power in the event of a total power outage.

    From Tents to Today, a Year at the New Site

    Published: January 27, 2022
  • A team of Blue Grass plant operators demonstrate the process for loading a tanker during a visit of local and state officials on Sept. 21.

    State, Local Officials Observe Tanker Loading in Preparation for Hydrolysate Shipment

    Published: October 5, 2021
  • A scientist holds a slice of the propellant portion of a rocket motor, a shaped chemical compound known as the propellant. After being separated from the rocket warheads during the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant destruction process, the motors are crated and stored pending their shipment for disposal as a secondary waste.

    Rocket Motors Stored to Await Destruction

    Published: September 30, 2021
  • A training specialist explains the automated rocket processing equipment installed at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell during his visit to the facility Aug. 18.

    Senator McConnell Visits Training Facility

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • Members of two community advisory groups watch as a robot moves a containerized punched and drained VX test rocket warhead during a tour at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Community Advisory Group Members Tour Training Facility

    Published: August 17, 2021
  • A robot moves a non-contaminated rocket motor separated from its warhead to place it into a shipping crate in the Motor Packing Room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The motors, in their shipping and firing tubes, will be packaged and transported to Anniston, Alabama, for disposal in a Static Detonation Chamber unit.

    Rocket Motors Extensively Studied Before Shipment

    Published: July 29, 2021
BGCAPP Explosive Destruction Technology

Related BGCAPP News

  • Blue Grass Mustard Munitions Destruction Schedule Accelerated

    Blue Grass Mustard Munitions Destruction Schedule Accelerated

    March 26, 2018
  • Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Receives Safety Approval

    Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Receives Safety Approval

    April 13, 2017
  • Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Postponed

    Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Postponed

    December 21, 2016
  • Test Munitions Delivered for Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Training

    Test Munitions Delivered for Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Training

    September 27, 2016
  • Blue Grass Completes Explosive Destruction Technology Service Magazine

    Blue Grass Completes Explosive Destruction Technology Service Magazine

    August 9, 2016

Connect with PEO ACWA

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for the Connect with ACWA e-newsletters to have information sent directly to your inbox. It’s a great way to stay connected with chemical weapons destruction plant activities.

Sign Up

Recent Tweets
  • Terms of Use
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
  • iSALUTE
  • Archive
  • Welcome to ACWA
  • Home
  • PEO ACWA Pages
    • About PEO ACWA
    • Destruction Progress
    • Team Biographies
    • Chain of Command
    • Program Timeline
    • Public Involvement
  • PEO ACWA Media Library
    • PEO ACWA Media Library (Main)
    • PEO ACWA News
    • PEO ACWA Videos
    • PEO ACWA Facts
    • PEO ACWA Press Releases
    • PEO ACWA Briefings and Reports
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Blue Grass Pages
    • BGCAPP Homepage
    • BGCAPP Project Stages
    • BGCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • BGCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at BGCAPP
    • Public Involvement at BGCAPP
    • Hydrolysate Shipments
  • BGCAPP Media Library
    • BGCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • BGCAPP News
    • BGCAPP Videos
    • BGCAPP Facts
    • BGCAPP Press Releases
    • BGCAPP Briefings, Reports and Downloads
  • Pueblo Pages
    • PCAPP Homepage
    • PCAPP Project Stages
    • PCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • PCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at PCAPP
    • Public Involvement at PCAPP
  • PCAPP Media Library
    • PCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • PCAPP News
    • PCAPP Videos
    • PCAPP Facts
    • PCAPP Press Releases
    • PCAPP Briefings, Reports, and Downloads
  • Archive
  • Job and Business Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)