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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 Plant Partners Begin Training for Safe Loading of Chemical Munitions

Published: June 16, 2016 | Category: BGCAPP News, Safety
A Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) worker observes as another worker practices loading dummy munitions onto a metal tray for placement in a secure transport container May 25. BGCA workers recently began a comprehensive munitions handling training program to ready them for operations.

A Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) worker observes as another worker practices loading dummy munitions onto a metal tray for placement in a secure transport container May 25. BGCA workers recently began a comprehensive munitions handling training program to ready them for operations.

Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) personnel began training with dummy munitions in May to get ready for Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) operations.

“A number of our personnel are familiar with munitions movement from previous destruction sites, but most of them are not,” said David Velazquez, director of chemical operations, BGCA. “This training will ensure everyone has the most up-to-date knowledge of safety and proper handling procedures. This will apply both for EDT operations and for the main plant following EDT.”

The workers will be responsible for removing palletized munitions from their storage location inside a steel-reinforced concrete, earth-covered structure known as an igloo. On a concrete pad outside the igloo, they will place the munitions on a metal tray, strap them down and then load them into a secure transport vessel, called an Enhanced On-site Container (EONC), for transport to the EDT processing site.

The training will proceed at a crawl-walk-run pace, said Velazquez, in a continuous process through December. The program began with a lecture and will progress through basic familiarization with equipment and standard operating procedures, handling and loading of munitions on trays and finally loading of the munitions into the EONC. Safety will be a common theme throughout the training and actual operations.

Blue Grass plant personnel refurbished an EONC and used a vendor to rebuild an accompanying trailer, repurposed from one of the mission-complete destruction facilities, and delivered them to BGCA for this training, said Bill Nieminen, systemization manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass.

“The EONC and trailer refurbishment taught us much about what we will need to do to prepare additional transport equipment before EDT operations begin,” said Nieminen. “The whole process took about a month as we reviewed all parts and installed replacements as necessary to ensure a reliable and safe condition.”

Training with the EONC should start soon, Velazquez said.

BGCA is responsible for the safe and secure monitored storage of the chemical munitions stockpile on the Blue Grass Army Depot.

More BGCAPP Safety Articles

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    Published: December 17, 2020
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    Published: September 10, 2020
  • Public Meeting Changes to Virtual Platform

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    Published: September 3, 2020
  • A munitions handler marks a box containing mustard agent-filled projectiles prior to destruction in the Explosive Destruction Technology facility at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Destruction of 50% of the mustard munitions was achieved Sept. 1.

    Half of Blue Grass Mustard Agent Destroyed

    Published: September 2, 2020
  • Testing Simulated Warheads Assists Destruction Efforts

    Testing Simulated Warheads Assists Destruction Efforts

    Published: August 31, 2020
  • Extensive Planning Leads to Successful Operation

    Extensive Planning Leads to Successful Operation

    Published: August 28, 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
  • Toxic Area entrants decontaminate the Agent Neutralization System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant with a caustic solution after the conclusion of the GB 8-inch projectile campaign. (Still image from closed-circuit television.)

    Workers Start Facility Decontamination

    Published: June 16, 2020
BGCAPP Training

More BGCAPP Training Articles

  • Kentucky Team Trains for Toxic Entries

    Kentucky Team Trains for Toxic Entries

    May 4, 2018
  • Partners Practice Response in Integrated Spill Drill

    Partners Practice Response in Integrated Spill Drill

    February 14, 2018
  • Technicians Use Mist and Light to Test Filters

    Technicians Use Mist and Light to Test Filters

    February 7, 2018
  • Depth of Experience Critical to Operations Training

    Depth of Experience Critical to Operations Training

    January 23, 2018
  • Protective Suit Sealer Ready for Operations

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    December 28, 2017

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