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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)

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

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Blue Grass Team Requests Permit Changes for Treaty Sampling

Published: November 12, 2015 | Category: BGCAPP News, Environment
A Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant employee views test samples in the Laboratory. Edgewood Chemical Biological Center personnel will conduct agent analysis to fulfill Chemical Weapons Convention treaty requirements in a similar on-site laboratory, beginning in 2017.

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) team requested a permit modification from Kentucky regulators Nov. 2 to sample and verify mustard agent as part of an international pledge to destroy chemical weapons.

“Because our mustard-agent munitions destruction process changed, our sampling process also needed to change,” said Eddie Whitworth, deputy site project manager, BGCAPP. “We worked with Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) personnel to find the best way to appropriately sample the agent in the munitions to satisfy treaty requirements.”

As part of the Chemical Weapons Convention, the inspection team must verify the specific type and quantity of chemical weapons being destroyed at BGCAPP and observe the process. To verify, liquid samples will be removed from selected munitions and analyzed in an on-site laboratory by Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) personnel, said Whitworth.

“The main plant processes allow for samples to be taken when the agent cavities are accessed, but the Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) selected for the Blue Grass mustard munitions will process the munitions whole,” said Allison Respess, assistant project manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “Working with the OPCW and experienced ECBC staff, as well as Blue Grass Chemical Activity and Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives personnel, we have established a workable mustard-agent sampling plan.”

The OPCW-approved path forward is to conduct a one-time sampling operation four to six weeks prior to the end of Blue Grass EDT operations. A treaty inspection team will have the opportunity to randomly select mustard-agent munitions for sampling each month of operations, said Whitworth. They will be provided real-time remote viewing of the full sampling operation and will observe laboratory analysis of the samples.

To view the permit modification request submitted to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection and learn about the related public comment period ending Jan. 4, 2016, view the Environmental Activities at BGCAPP page.

More BGCAPP Environment Articles

  • Workers remove used carbon filters from the Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology air filtration system for disposal as hazardous waste.

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Published: April 19, 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
  • Workers drill holes for structural steel placement on the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 Off-gas Treatment System Building foundation at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. A public comment period is open through March 16 for a permit modification request for this system.

    Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit

    Published: February 23, 2022
  • A worker guides a crane after its placement of the thermal oxidizer for the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 unit at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The SDC 1200 requires a completely new off-gas treatment system in order to process drained, containerized VX nerve-agent warheads.

    New Pollution Abatement System Under Construction

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • A forklift operator is guided by spotters as he loads a crate of non-contaminated rocket motors onto a truck at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant July 20. The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has opened a public comment period for plant modification requests that include additional storage space for the motors.

    Public Comment Period Open for Hydrolysate Shipment, Rocket Motor Storage

    Published: July 29, 2021
  • A truck and tank trailer sit in the tanker loading station at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Project Managers to Discuss Hydrolysate Shipment at June 9 Public Meeting

    Published: June 3, 2021
  • A deer browses in an experimental plot of American chestnut trees on the Blue Grass Army Depot near the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The depot is a partner in a conservation project to propagate blight-resistant versions of the American chestnut tree.

    Blue Grass Partner Assists with Conservation Effort

    Published: April 30, 2021
  • Technicians program a Rocket Warhead Containerization System robot inside the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in February. This equipment is the subject of one of four Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection permit modification requests currently in a public comment period.

    Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests

    Published: April 5, 2021
  • Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

    Published: January 28, 2021
  • First-Time Filter Change Activity

    First-Time Filter Change Activity

    Published: December 29, 2020
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Related News

  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    May 2, 2022
  • Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

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    April 20, 2022
  • Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    April 19, 2022
  • U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

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    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    March 31, 2022

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