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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: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 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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Blood Draws Important for Worker Safety

Published: November 14, 2018 | Category: BGCAPP News, Safety
A worker watches a television as a paramedic takes his blood for a Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase (ChE) baseline record at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Worker ChE baselines are being prepared in the event a determination is needed for an unlikely chemical agent exposure.

A worker watches a television as a paramedic takes his blood for a Red Blood Cell Acetylcholinesterase (ChE) baseline record at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Worker ChE baselines are being prepared in the event a determination is needed for an unlikely chemical agent exposure.

Blue Grass workers are having their blood tested by staff medical experts in order to establish baseline data before chemical-agent destruction operations begin.

The normal range of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase, or ChE, activity is important when monitoring people who process chemical agents.

“One method our medical department will use to verify if a worker has been exposed to nerve agent is to measure the ChE value of their blood and compare it to their baseline,” said Ray Hagen, paramedic, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “Every worker at the site who will be issued a respirator is having blood drawn to record their ChE baselines before chemical operations begin.”

Nerve agents are organophosphates, which are toxic to the human nervous system. While unlikely, a low-level exposure to nerve agent may not show symptoms, but the baseline blood test results would, Hagen said. A drop in ChE levels when compared to a person’s baseline would indicate exposure.  To establish baseline levels, at least two blood tests, greater than 24 hours and no more than 14 days apart, are required.

“Although exposure to nerve agent is very unlikely for plant workers, safety is always foremost,” Hagen said. “Each worker is issued an escape respirator, which will protect them from inhalation hazards or exposure to the eyes and facial mucous membranes. The worker’s blood work must be on file to issue the mask.”

“I’m glad our safety is so important to this project,” said one worker having his blood drawn. “And I didn’t even really feel the needle. Ray did a nice job.”

BGCAPP Safety Articles

  • Workers lower a 30,000-pound buffer tank into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 building through an opening in the roof. This tank will buffer exhaust gases from the destruction process of the drained nerve-agent rocket warheads before the gases are processed in the off-gas treatment system.

    New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    Published: March 30, 2022
  • Workers remove the first crate of non-contaminated rocket motors from a storage igloo on the Blue Grass Army Depot in preparation for transport to the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama. The first load was shipped out Nov. 1 and received Nov. 2. The motors will be destroyed in the Anniston Static Detonation Chamber when environmental permitting is completed. A portion of this photo has been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.

    First Non-Contaminated Rocket Motor Shipment Completed

    Published: December 2, 2021
  • A worker unstraps two pallets of VX M55 rockets in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in this file photograph from July. As of Nov. 14, 50% of the VX agent stored on the Blue Grass Army Depot has been destroyed.

    Fifty Percent of VX Nerve Agent Destroyed in Kentucky

    Published: November 16, 2021
  • An operator checks to make sure a valve is open for loading hydrolysate into a tank trailer at the Tanker Loading Station at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The first two tankers of hydrolysate were safely shipped Oct. 7 for destruction at Veolia Environmental Services near Port Arthur, Texas.

    First Blue Grass Hydrolysate Shipment Safely Completed

    Published: October 25, 2021
  • Medical personnel perform a drill of stabilizing a patient (a medical dummy) and preparing him for transport to a local hospital at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The plant relies upon 12 area hospitals to receive decontaminated and stabilized personnel in the unlikely event of a chemical-agent or industrial accident.

    Coordination with Hospitals Essential for Plant Operations

    Published: September 30, 2021
  • Drill Enhances Emergency Response

    Drill Enhances Emergency Response

    Published: February 9, 2021
  • Program Partner Plays Key Role in Destruction Activities

    Program Partner Plays Key Role in Destruction Activities

    Published: January 28, 2021
  • Plants Operate with Pandemic Precautions in Place

    Plants Operate with Pandemic Precautions in Place

    Published: December 17, 2020
  • Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

    Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

    Published: September 10, 2020
  • Public Meeting Changes to Virtual Platform

    Public Meeting Changes to Virtual Platform

    Published: September 3, 2020
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Recent News

  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    May 2, 2022
  • Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    April 20, 2022
  • Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    April 19, 2022
  • U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    March 31, 2022
  • BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    March 31, 2022

Safety Videos

  • Blue Grass Plant Medical Staff Stays Prepared

    Blue Grass Plant Medical Staff Stays Prepared

    June 5, 2017
  • Testing Rolls On Inside Kentucky’s Chemical Weapons Destruction

    Testing Rolls On Inside Kentucky’s Chemical Weapons Destruction

    September 23, 2016
  • On-site Medical Facility Prepares to Support Blue Grass Plant

    On-site Medical Facility Prepares to Support Blue Grass Plant

    June 27, 2016
  • Emergency Operations Center Supports Kentucky Chemical Weapons Destruction Project

    Emergency Operations Center Supports Kentucky Chemical Weapons Destruction Project

    April 19, 2016
  • High Angle Training to the Rescue at the Blue Grass Plant

    High Angle Training to the Rescue at the Blue Grass Plant

    January 8, 2016

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