The Blue Grass main plant is now operating under a standard hazardous waste permit after its status was upgraded in January.

“This permit change puts us in line with typical industrial facilities,” said Todd Williams, environmental engineer, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “The previous Research, Development and Demonstration permit allowed for more flexibility during the design and construction phases, but now the plant is in operations, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Part B permit is more appropriate.”

Just because the permit status has changed doesn’t mean there is any less focus by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, or KDEP, Williams said. The project has been working together with KDEP since the beginning, to ensure the protection of the workforce, community and environment, and will continue to do so through closure.

“Having the Part B permit will also allow us an easier transition between the current GB nerve-agent destruction campaign and the eventual VX campaign,” Williams said. “We’ve submitted the VX modification to KDEP and they’re working on it.”

The plant’s Explosive Destruction Technology is already operating under a Part B permit as it processes mustard-agent munitions.