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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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Nerve Agent Testing Proposed for Static Detonation Chamber

Published: September 26, 2018 | Category: BGCAPP News
  • A community advisory group member asks a question at a public meeting Sept. 12 during a discussion about the possibility of using the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber to destroy problematic nerve-agent munitions after the mustard munitions are processed.

    A community advisory group member asks a question at a public meeting Sept. 12 during a discussion about the possibility of using the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber to destroy problematic nerve-agent munitions after the mustard munitions are processed.

  • An attendee looks into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber during an Aug. 29 tour.

    An attendee looks into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber during an Aug. 29 tour.

Experts at the Blue Grass project are considering using the Static Detonation Chamber facility that will destroy mustard-agent munitions to also complete destruction of problematic nerve-agent munitions.

“We have to recognize these are very serious chemicals and munitions that are overpacked and potentially leaking,” said Jeff Brubaker, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “We can process the overpacked containers directly into the chamber instead of physically handling and manipulating them.”

The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives intends to test the chamber, known as the SDC, for the possibility of nerve agent destruction after the mustard campaign.

Brubaker said during a public meeting in Richmond, Kentucky Sept. 12 he is confident the main plant will process the majority of the nerve agent stockpile, but he also made the community aware of the program’s requirement for a back-up plan.

“We would like to emphasize that SDC nerve agent processing is a contingency plan to ensure worker and community safety, which remains our number one priority,” said Craig Williams, co-chair, Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board. “We don’t want to shut the plant down in the middle of destruction or send people in to deal with problems.”

The SDC agent test will occur on site using a surrogate material, monochlorobenzine, Brubaker said. Testing will gather data for the possibility of processing overpacked munitions and rejected nerve agent projectiles as well as M55 rocket warheads in overpacks. Additionally, the SDC could process approximately 280 8-inch nerve agent projectiles known to contain stabilizers that have caused the agent to gel, which could present significant processing challenges with the neutralization process in the main facility.

The testing will provide data needed by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to approve the use of the SDC for the destruction of nerve agent.

BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • In this file photograph from August 2018, Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, explains to members of a public working group the rerouting of piping in the Supercritical Water Oxidation Processing Building to prepare for the possibility of hydrolysate shipment at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The decision was made in August 2020 to ship the hydrolysate to a permitted disposal facility for final destruction.

    Decision Made on Hydrolysate Treatment

    Published: March 31, 2021
  • VX Destruction Requires Change in Air Monitoring

    VX Destruction Requires Change in Air Monitoring

    Published: March 3, 2021
  • Specialized Equipment Arrives at Blue Grass Plant

    Specialized Equipment Arrives at Blue Grass Plant

    Published: November 18, 2020
  • Public Comment Invited on Plant Permit Modification Request

    Public Comment Invited on Plant Permit Modification Request

    Published: October 27, 2020
  • New Equipment Installed for Training

    New Equipment Installed for Training

    Published: October 26, 2020
  • Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

    Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

    Published: September 10, 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
  • A worker drills holes in the concrete floor to install an equipment mounting plate in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Rocket Processing Changes Lead to Plant Updates

    Published: July 31, 2020
  • A robot places a containerized test rocket warhead on an autonomous vehicle during factory acceptance testing of the Rocket Warhead Containerization System for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    New Rocket Processing System Passes Test

    Published: July 9, 2020
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Related BGCAPP News

  • System Starts Processing 8-inch Test Projectiles

    System Starts Processing 8-inch Test Projectiles

    May 25, 2018
  • Team Works to Ensure Critical Balance

    Team Works to Ensure Critical Balance

    May 18, 2018
  • Technicians Start Air Filtration System for First Time

    Technicians Start Air Filtration System for First Time

    May 16, 2018
  • Water Systems Turned Over to Operations

    Water Systems Turned Over to Operations

    April 27, 2018
  • Experts: 21 Systems Turned Over to Operations

    Experts: 21 Systems Turned Over to Operations

    March 29, 2018
  • Major Neutralization System Passes Demonstration

    Major Neutralization System Passes Demonstration

    March 21, 2018
  • Key Blue Grass Systems Tested

    Key Blue Grass Systems Tested

    February 28, 2018

Related BGCAPP Info

  • Facts: Blue Grass ACWA Test Equipment

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