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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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Blue Grass Plant Health Assessment Shows No Risk to Public

Published: September 4, 2019 | Category: BGCAPP News, Safety
A technician takes down results from carbon filter bank testing at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. A recently completed health assessment regarding plant emissions is now in review with the state’s environmental department.

A technician takes down results from carbon filter bank testing at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. A recently completed health assessment regarding plant emissions is now in review with the state’s environmental department.

This summer, a multi-disciplinary group of experts completed a major assessment required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of any facility with the potential to impact human health and the environment.

“The Human Health Risk Assessment, or HHRA, takes into account all potential emission sources that could come from the Blue Grass facility and how they could impact the environment,” said Dr. Mike Williams, environmental engineer, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “We had to estimate emissions since the main plant is not yet in operations, and we chose to estimate the worst case for each one. These worst-case estimates are still very low, as we focused on ensuring public health, safety and environmental protection from the very beginning when designing and constructing the plant.”

Technicians use software modeling to plot where these worst-case estimated emissions might go and what effect they might have on people and the environment. The modeling showed that even the worst-case estimates would not put the public or the environment at unacceptable risk, Williams said. Once the plant is in operations, samples will be taken and compared to the modeled data. Any real-world risk is expected to be much lower than the modeled data, as the model is using worst-case scenario amounts.

“Due to the planning and effort put in during the design and construction phases, the assessment shows no harm will come to people or the environment from emissions from the operation of this plant,” said Williams. “This has been a long process, but it’s important because it ensures that we will be safe. We’re not going to generate emissions that will be harmful to the workforce, community and environment.”

The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, or KDEP, is now reviewing the assessment. Upon their approval, when the plant starts operations and reaches the expected feed rate, emissions sampling will be performed to verify emissions are within HHRA modeling and the plant will receive approval to continue operations.

BGCAPP Technology 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 pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

    Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

    Published: March 1, 2022
  • Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants decontaminate equipment in the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Since all projectiles have been destroyed, much of this equipment is no longer needed for chemical weapons destruction.

    Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

    Published: February 8, 2022
  • An operator cuts up the buffer tank from the mustard-processing off-gas treatment system at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 site Jan. 11. The tank pieces are being disposed of as scrap and a new buffer tank will be installed for the upcoming drained VX rocket warhead destruction campaign.

    Equipment Removed for Site Upgrade

    Published: February 1, 2022
  • Workers guide a stand-by diesel generator as it is lifted by a crane in preparation for placement on its foundation at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site Jan. 11. During operations, this generator will provide back-up power in the event of a total power outage.

    From Tents to Today, a Year at the New Site

    Published: January 27, 2022
  • A team of Blue Grass plant operators demonstrate the process for loading a tanker during a visit of local and state officials on Sept. 21.

    State, Local Officials Observe Tanker Loading in Preparation for Hydrolysate Shipment

    Published: October 5, 2021
  • A scientist holds a slice of the propellant portion of a rocket motor, a shaped chemical compound known as the propellant. After being separated from the rocket warheads during the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant destruction process, the motors are crated and stored pending their shipment for disposal as a secondary waste.

    Rocket Motors Stored to Await Destruction

    Published: September 30, 2021
  • A training specialist explains the automated rocket processing equipment installed at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell during his visit to the facility Aug. 18.

    Senator McConnell Visits Training Facility

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • Members of two community advisory groups watch as a robot moves a containerized punched and drained VX test rocket warhead during a tour at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Community Advisory Group Members Tour Training Facility

    Published: August 17, 2021
  • A robot moves a non-contaminated rocket motor separated from its warhead to place it into a shipping crate in the Motor Packing Room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The motors, in their shipping and firing tubes, will be packaged and transported to Anniston, Alabama, for disposal in a Static Detonation Chamber unit.

    Rocket Motors Extensively Studied Before Shipment

    Published: July 29, 2021
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Other Recent BGCAPP 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

BCGAPP Technology Videos

  • Kentucky Workers Prepare for Next Campaign

    Kentucky Workers Prepare for Next Campaign

    August 12, 2020
  • Robots Take Apart Nerve Agent-filled Rockets

    Robots Take Apart Nerve Agent-filled Rockets

    April 20, 2018
  • Piping Pressure Builds at Blue Grass Plant

    Piping Pressure Builds at Blue Grass Plant

    February 8, 2018
  • Blue Grass Air Filter Banks Prepared for Testing and Operations

    Blue Grass Air Filter Banks Prepared for Testing and Operations

    January 31, 2018
  • What is BGCAPP?

    What is BGCAPP?

    November 17, 2017

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