Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) leaders discussed project schedule and disposal of non-contaminated rocket motors during a quarterly public meeting at Eastern Kentucky University June 8.

“It now looks like Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) operations will begin in the August to October 2017 timeframe,” said Ron Hink, project manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass.

Hink said the EDT facility schedule has faced some challenges. Leaders originally projected operations beginning in spring of 2017.

Jeff Brubaker, site project manager, BGCAPP, presented information about progress on repairing deficient welds in the Supercritical Water Oxidation Processing Building to Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board (CDCAB) members.

“To date, we’ve had very good success,” said Brubaker. “We now feel confident that this welding will be complete by the end of August. This is well ahead of the original estimate of the end of the calendar year.”

Brubaker also reported on rocket motor testing at Blue Grass Army Depot, as well as Redstone Arsenal and Anniston Army Depot in Alabama.

“We’re waiting on final reports, but initial results are positive,” he said. “Once those reports are available, it will help us make decisions on how to dispose of the rocket motors.”

“I’m very pleased with the rocket motor research done for disposal,” said Craig Williams, co-chair, CDCAB. “We’ve always had a disposition as to keeping as much stuff [rocket motors and secondary waste processing] as we can get rid of here because we don’t want to be shipping this stuff all over the country. That’s all good news.”