BGCAPP Monthly Recap – April 2020 | Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)

BGCAPP Monthly Recap – April 2020

Published: May 4, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, Monthly Recap

Local project employment: 1,297. Local payroll paid to date: $1.018 billion. Quantity destroyed: 50.9 U.S. Tons.

Highlights

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Progress continues at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) and includes workforce measures taken in accordance with the most up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent the potential spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives’ message on the COVID-19 pandemic can be found here: https://www.peoacwa.army.mil/message-on-covid-19

Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) Facility Update:

The EDT facility is using a Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) to destroy the mustard agent munitions.
The first mustard-agent projectile was destroyed in the EDT June 7, 2019.
This Month:
- The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection approved emissions test results, which allows the facility to process at up to 100% of the feed rate demonstrated during the testing.
- Destruction of 35% of the 155mm mustard projectiles occurred April 13.

Main Plant Update:

The main plant is using neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) to destroy nerve agent munitions.
Destruction of the first GB agent-filled 8-inch projectile occurred Jan 17.
This Month:
- Destruction operations continue.
- Destruction of 75% of the 8-inch GB projectiles occurred April 25.

SDC 2000 Update:

BGCAPP will use an additional SDC to destroy a portion of the nerve agent munitions, including full rocket overpacks and rocket components.
This Month:
- Site preparation and utility work continues.
- Concrete slab for the Personnel Support Facility completed, and vertical construction began.

Upcoming Meetings

PLEASE NOTE: The Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting scheduled for June 10 has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held:

Sept. 23, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. ET
Carl D. Perkins Building, Rooms A and B
Eastern Kentucky University
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.