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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)
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      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

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      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.

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      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

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News from the BGCAPP Construction Site, August 2015

Published: August 13, 2015 | Category: BGCAPP News, Construction
In September 2010, workers placed the third Energetics Neutralization Reactor on its pad in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass plant. The energetics neutralization system is currently undergoing modification to decrease the formation of hydrogen cyanide in the neutralization process.

In September 2010, workers placed the third Energetics Neutralization Reactor on its pad in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass plant. The energetics neutralization system is currently undergoing modification to decrease the formation of hydrogen cyanide in the neutralization process.

Blue Grass plant personnel are enhancing auxiliary systems to the Energetics Neutralization Reactors (ENR) to decrease formation of hydrogen cyanide and keep the workforce safe.

Over the past ten years, scientists have conducted a series of validation tests at bench and pilot scale of the chemical destruction processes that will eventually be used at the Blue Grass plant. During one of these tests, they determined that low levels of hydrogen cyanide could be formed during the energetics neutralization process. These levels have the potential to affect workers farther down the line working with a secondary treatment process to remove dissolved aluminum from one of the process streams.

Although these cyanide levels would be below worker safety regulation standards and pose no public or environmental risk, project leadership decided to enhance the system as a precautionary step to further ensure worker safety.

Enhancements to the energetics neutralization system consist of installing insulation around each of the three ENRs, installing an additional heat exchanger to increase ENR batch temperatures by approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit (F) and installing equipment to cool samples that must be collected for laboratory analysis.

This increase in temperature will safely and efficiently destroy most of the cyanide without compromising the neutralization process or the secondary supercritical water oxidation process. The optimum temperature for the heating process is 300 degrees F.

One such construction activity for this redesign is to install piping and support work for the additional heat exchanger to be set in the second level of the secondary heat transfer room. Workers are also placing the sample cooler on the sampling line.

Next steps for this process include recertification in September 2015 to meet the American Society of Mechanical Engineers standards for the increased pressure and temperature.

Site Construction Progress

Construction: 97.1 percent complete
Systemization: 35 percent complete
Construction Turnover: 477 of 585 Quality Data Packages

Around the site, ongoing work includes:

  • Substantial completion of construction
  • Arrival of the Static Detonation Chamber unit from Sweden
  • Implementation of Rocket Handling System and Munitions Washout System revisions
  • Continuation of continuity checks between project equipment and the Facility Control System
  • Completion of various construction punch-list items such as cable termination and inspection, pressure testing of piping and caulking, and sealing of panel wall seams and penetrations

More BGCAPP Construction Articles

  • 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
  • An electrician installs a temporary power circuit during construction work for the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Oct. 21.

    Facility Prepared to Process Drained Rocket Warheads

    Published: November 10, 2021
  • Equipment Placement Continues Despite Harsh Weather

    Equipment Placement Continues Despite Harsh Weather

    Published: February 26, 2021
  • Experts Make Big Lift Look Easy

    Experts Make Big Lift Look Easy

    Published: December 18, 2020
  • Depot Workers Assist with Heavy Lifting

    Depot Workers Assist with Heavy Lifting

    Published: December 7, 2020
  • Construction Progressing on Storage Magazine

    Construction Progressing on Storage Magazine

    Published: December 2, 2020
  • Workers place the first concrete on the Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant March 9, 2020. The placement is for foundation footers for the site's Personnel Support Building.

    First Concrete Placed at New Site

    Published: March 24, 2020
  • Workers install the first structural steel on the Explosive Destruction Technology Enclosure Building (EEB) at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Dec. 29, 2015. The EEB will house the Static Detonation Chamber that is slated to destroy the mustard munitions in the Blue Grass stockpile.

    First Structural Steel Goes Up on Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology Enclosure Building

    Published: January 7, 2016
  • Blue Grass Team Makes Progress at Explosive Destruction Technology Site

    Published: December 3, 2015
  • An aerial view of the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant on Oct. 16, 2015. The project marks a major milestone with a media day for the completion of construction this month.

    Blue Grass Plant Completes Construction Safely, On Schedule

    Published: October 16, 2015
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