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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: Destroy Chemical Weapons Stockpile

      Vision: Chemical Weapons Free by 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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Nerve Agent Destruction Scheduled for Early 2020

Published: October 31, 2019 | Category: BGCAPP News, Safety
A worker moves a robot with a forklift at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Start-up of the main plant has been slightly shifted to provide greater safety to workers removing equipment in support of recent changes to the rocket handling system.

A worker moves a robot with a forklift at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Start-up of the main plant has been slightly shifted to provide greater safety to workers removing equipment in support of recent changes to the rocket handling system.

After discussions between the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives and Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, the program decided to move the start of operations for the Blue Grass main plant from late 2019 to early 2020.

“There were several considerations that went into making this decision, but the main factor, as always, was safety,” said Dr. Candace Coyle, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “Rescheduling the start of nerve agent operations allows us additional time to make modifications to the rocket processing line before chemical agent is introduced into the main plant. It also allows workers to place some of the new equipment without having to wear additional personal protective equipment.”

This schedule shift does not affect ongoing operations at the Static Detonation Chamber 1200, with mustard munitions destruction continuing as planned, Coyle said. Workers are also preparing to begin site preparation activities for placing the Static Detonation Chamber 2000.

“We believe this change will allow a smooth startup of the main plant as we work toward our goal of destroying the chemical weapons stockpile in Kentucky by December 2023,” Coyle said.

The Blue Grass main plant and Static Detonation Chambers are responsible for destroying 523 tons of chemical agent contained in rockets, artillery projectiles and three Department of Transportation bottles currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • In this file photograph from August 2018, Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, explains to members of a public working group the rerouting of piping in the Supercritical Water Oxidation Processing Building to prepare for the possibility of hydrolysate shipment at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The decision was made in August 2020 to ship the hydrolysate to a permitted disposal facility for final destruction.

    Decision Made on Hydrolysate Treatment

    Published: March 31, 2021
  • VX Destruction Requires Change in Air Monitoring

    VX Destruction Requires Change in Air Monitoring

    Published: March 3, 2021
  • Specialized Equipment Arrives at Blue Grass Plant

    Specialized Equipment Arrives at Blue Grass Plant

    Published: November 18, 2020
  • Public Comment Invited on Plant Permit Modification Request

    Public Comment Invited on Plant Permit Modification Request

    Published: October 27, 2020
  • New Equipment Installed for Training

    New Equipment Installed for Training

    Published: October 26, 2020
  • Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

    Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

    Published: September 10, 2020
  • A munitions handler marks a box containing mustard agent-filled projectiles prior to destruction in the Explosive Destruction Technology facility at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Destruction of 50% of the mustard munitions was achieved Sept. 1.

    Half of Blue Grass Mustard Agent Destroyed

    Published: September 2, 2020
  • Testing Simulated Warheads Assists Destruction Efforts

    Testing Simulated Warheads Assists Destruction Efforts

    Published: August 31, 2020
  • A worker drills holes in the concrete floor to install an equipment mounting plate in the Munitions Demilitarization Building at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Rocket Processing Changes Lead to Plant Updates

    Published: July 31, 2020
  • A robot places a containerized test rocket warhead on an autonomous vehicle during factory acceptance testing of the Rocket Warhead Containerization System for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    New Rocket Processing System Passes Test

    Published: July 9, 2020
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Other Recent BGCAPP News

  • Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests

    Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests

    April 5, 2021
  • Decision Made on Hydrolysate Treatment

    Decision Made on Hydrolysate Treatment

    March 31, 2021
  • BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2021

    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2021

    March 31, 2021
  • VX Destruction Requires Change in Air Monitoring

    VX Destruction Requires Change in Air Monitoring

    March 3, 2021
  • Equipment Placement Continues Despite Harsh Weather

    Equipment Placement Continues Despite Harsh Weather

    February 26, 2021

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)