Technicians finished a major procedure in December that will allow the plant to move forward with preparations for establishing agent boundaries, an essential step prior to chemical weapons destruction operations.

“With the completion of the Munitions Demilitarization Building heating, ventilation and air conditioning System Demonstration Procedure, we have taken one of the most significant steps in preparing for operations,” said Ken Ankrom, systemization manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass.

The facility’s cascading ventilation system will pull air from clean areas of the plant to areas that are limited access for contamination before filter banks clean the air, protecting the workers, community and environment. Technicians sealed and smoke-tested all rooms and balanced the ventilation system.

“The efforts to seal the building, complete the balance of the ventilation system and prepare the equipment for demonstration testing represent years of teamwork by the entire Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant organization,” Ankrom said.

Next steps for the facility include final modifications and testing for the processing of the 8-inch GB projectiles. The pilot plant is slated to begin destroying chemical weapons in late 2019.