Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) leaders provided updates on 2016 progress during a quarterly public meeting Dec. 14.

“Our focus was moving main plant systemization activities forward,” said Jeff Brubaker, site project manager, BGCAPP. “For the Explosive Destruction Technology, or EDT, facility, we set the Static Detonation Chamber in place and began equipment installation around the chamber.”

In the summer months, progress was made by introducing simulated munitions and processing them through pieces of equipment such as the Rocket Cutting Machine in the Munitions Demilitarization Building, said Brubaker.

“By the fall, the bulk of the EDT construction was complete,” said Rick Goetz, deputy project manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “We began some of the systems level acceptance testing.”

Due to budget challenges in 2017, the start of mustard agent destruction operations will be delayed, said Brubaker. Goetz additionally provided that the EDT facility will be preserved in a safe and secure condition. This will allow more focus on systemizing the main plant, which will destroy the nerve agent stockpile.

“As far as I can see, we’re still talking (completing operations) in the 2023 zone,” said Craig Williams, co-chair, Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board. “The confidence is still high that we’ll be in line with the current, overarching schedule.”

Several schedule options are available, said Brubaker. Project personnel are involved in re-planning and information will be provided at the next quarterly public meeting March 8.