Blue Grass plant government shift representatives, who will provide oversight of the systems contractor from systemization to start-up of the plant, moved to around-the-clock shifts Sept. 30.

“It has been a journey for them to get to this point,” said Eddie Whitworth, deputy site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “They had to complete an extensive training program before making this change. In some cases, they had to develop training materials.”

The representatives will work as an extension of the government field office team, Whitworth said. They have become knowledgeable about the plant and plant systems through their training. This schedule shift is important as staff from Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, the systems contractor, has 24/7 systemization activities underway.

“Starting now allows the staff members to become accustomed to shift work,” Whitworth said. “It is another step in preparing to support agent operations and completing their certification process.”

Mustard agent destruction operations are scheduled to begin in summer 2019 with nerve agent destruction scheduled for fall 2019.