The Blue Grass plant received state approval in early September to begin work for the proposed second Static Detonation Chamber.

“Receiving Temporary Authorization Request approval from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection basically allows us to start site-work activities prior to having the final permit issued,” said Brian Ballard, environmental engineer, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “We will still have quite a few steps to go through to get to an issuance of a final permit, but the approval allows the project to go ahead and get started so it doesn’t hold up the schedule.”

The approval allows for site grading and grubbing, underground utilities excavation and installation, and concrete slab installation for the proposed facility, Ballard said. The proposed site is close to the main plant, on the Blue Grass Army Depot.

“The equipment is scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 2020 and the goal is to have the site ready to accept it when it gets here,” Ballard said. “That will help move the process along so we finish destroying the chemical weapons by the end of 2023.”

The plant is still required to submit a Class 3 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification to receive approval from the state to assemble the facility. This action will include comment periods, public information meetings and public hearings/meetings.