BGCAPP Monthly Recap – September 2019 | Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)

BGCAPP Monthly Recap – September 2019

Published: September 30, 2019 | Category: BGCAPP News, Monthly Recap

Highlights

Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) Facility Update:

As of Sept. 20, the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) has destroyed 1.27% of the chemical weapons stockpile in Kentucky.
The first mustard-agent projectile was destroyed in the SDC June 7, 2019.
Operations continue in accordance with the ramp-up plan. Workers are fine-tuning equipment and processes as they progress through the plan.

Main Plant Update:

Systemization and optimization of the facility are underway. Systemization encompasses the planning, technical work, training and testing activities required to ensure that once destruction operations begin, the plant runs safely and smoothly. Once systems have been turned over to the operations team, optimization helps fine-tune and adjust them for their best performance.
Nerve-agent destruction operations are expected to start in early 2020, using neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation.
- Starting early 2020 allows for safety of workers making modifications to rocket processing equipment before chemical agent is introduced into the main plant
- This shift does not impact the schedule to complete the destruction of the chemical weapons by December 2023
Recent accomplishments:
- Delivery to the plant of isopropyl alcohol, to be used as fuel for the supercritical water oxidation process
- Preparing for Metal Parts Treater systemization demonstration procedure
- Preparing for main plant lock-down

Upcoming Meetings

Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board
Dec. 11, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. EDT
Eastern Kentucky University
Carl D. Perkins Building, Rooms A and B
4440 Kit Carson Dr.
Richmond, Kentucky

New to BGCAPP?

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is a state-of-the-art facility safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky. A Static Detonation Chamber is currently being used to destroy the mustard agent stockpile. The main plant will use neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation to destroy the nerve agent stockpile. The safety of the workforce, as well as of the neighboring communities, is the project’s most important priority.