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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)

      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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Plant Enhancements Prompt Permitting Updates

Published: September 26, 2017 | Category: BGCAPP News, Environment
A Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant startup team member and a contractor test a robot as it moves a hopper in the Explosive Containment Room. The plant has 59 independent systems that must be integrated and tested during the systemization phase.

A Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant startup team member and a contractor test a robot as it moves a hopper in the Explosive Containment Room. The plant has 59 independent systems that must be integrated and tested during the systemization phase.

Testing of equipment and procedures at the Blue Grass plant has led to an array of enhancements and permitting updates discussed during a public meeting Sept. 13 in Richmond, Kentucky.

“I feel personally like a significant amount of progress can be seen here now,” said Craig Williams, co-chair, Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board. “With 59 independent systems to integrate it’s going to be challenging, but my confidence is very high.”

As the Blue Grass team continues to test all of its systems and processes they must submit permit modification requests to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP). The department is ultimately responsible for signing off on final environmental permits for the U.S. Army and its contractors to operate the chemical demilitarization plant.

“We have a lot of things under review right now – it’s a pretty busy time,” said Dale Burton, Blue Grass Army Depot Section, KDEP.

The state’s environmental department is processing paperwork for the sixth revision to the plant’s Research, Development and Demonstration permit, which will transition permitting documents to a standard format, Burton said. They are also reviewing a Class 2 modification to the same permit, which covers the removal of the plant’s munitions washout system and the removal of cyanide formation from the destruction process. In addition, the department is working on the main plant’s waste analysis plan, a GB sampling modification and almost 20 more minor modifications.

“Revisions are a standard part of business as things change at a site,” Burton said after the meeting. “As plant engineers and technicians make additions, deletions or changes to equipment and processes, based on their testing and observations, it can change permit language and conditions. We work with the Blue Grass plant to incorporate these changes and ensure we continue to protect the workforce, community and environment.”

Blue Grass Permitting Information

For additional information on permitting visit the Blue Grass environmental activities 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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Related News

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