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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: Destroy Chemical Weapons Stockpile

      Vision: Chemical Weapons Free by 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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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

  • 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
  • Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification

    Published: October 13, 2020
  • Blue Grass plant munitions handlers unpack filters in anticipation of the Explosive Destruction Technology Service Magazine filter changeout at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant

    Workers Complete Filter Change

    Published: August 20, 2020
  • Site preparation continues at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modifications

    Published: July 16, 2020
  • A waste operator practices moving waste drums on pallets at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Container Storage Facility. The plant’s hazardous waste is regulated by a standard hazardous waste permit through the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.

    Permit Conversion Public Comment Period Open Through Dec. 11

    Published: December 5, 2019
  • A technician watches as a tray of test projectile bodies moves through the Metal Parts Treater (MPT) for a conveyor alignment check at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The MPT Surrogate Test Plan was the subject of a recent Class 1 modification to the plant’s hazardous waste permit.

    Minor Permit Modifications Routine Business for Plant

    Published: August 20, 2019
  • Col. Joseph Kurz, commander, Blue Grass Army Depot, discusses Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant processes with Ron Hink, project manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. The commander signed his acceptance of a Finding of No Significant Impact generated from a May 2019 environmental assessment for augmentation of plant processing capability July 1.

    Signature Signals Path Forward for Additional Equipment

    Published: July 25, 2019
  • Madison County, Kentucky, residents listen to a presentation about the environmental assessment for the proposed action for processing nerve agent-filled munitions at the Blue Grass Army Depot at a May 21 public meeting. The public comment period for this action ends June 17.

    Environmental Assessment Public Comment Period Open Through June 17

    Published: May 31, 2019
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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)