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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: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 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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Long History of GB Nerve Agent Projectiles Ends

Published: May 21, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, Program Milestones, Safety
A munitions handler inspects pallets of GB nerve agent projectiles inside an Enhanced On-site Container at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. These projectiles were assembled in the 1960s and were never used in war. In 1986 Congress mandated their destruction, along with the rest of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. (Portions of this image have been masked in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

A munitions handler inspects pallets of GB nerve agent projectiles inside an Enhanced On-site Container at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. These projectiles were assembled in the 1960s and were never used in war. In 1986 Congress mandated their destruction, along with the rest of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile. (Portions of this image have been masked in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

The 8-inch GB agent-filled projectiles safely stored and destroyed on the Blue Grass Army Depot originated at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Colorado in the 1960s.

“The projectiles were filled and assembled at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal between 1965 and 1966 using nerve agent GB produced by the arsenal in 1954,” said Tom Reinhardt, quality assurance specialist, ammunition surveillance, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “The high quality steel bodies were made by National Presto Industries, a company familiar to many people as a manufacturer of small kitchen appliances, that also specializes in defense and absorbent products.”

Designed to be fired from howitzers, the projectiles were produced during the period of the Vietnam War, Reinhardt said. Nerve agents created by the United States were developed as a deterrent against other countries possessing nerve agents. In 1986 Congress mandated all U.S. stockpiles of chemical weapons be destroyed.

“We have now destroyed one specific group of weapons that will never be seen again in the U.S. stockpile,” Reinhardt said. “They had a purpose when they were produced, they served that purpose just by their existence, and they have not been needed for many years.”

After the destruction of the GB projectiles, nerve agent VX projectiles and GB and VX rockets still remain in the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot and are slated for destruction in upcoming campaigns. The mustard munitions are being destroyed by the Explosive Destruction Technology.

Progress continues at the site and includes workforce measures in accordance with the most up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure their health and to prevent the potential spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

BGCAPP Technology Articles

  • Workers lower a 30,000-pound buffer tank into the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 building through an opening in the roof. This tank will buffer exhaust gases from the destruction process of the drained nerve-agent rocket warheads before the gases are processed in the off-gas treatment system.

    New Tank Safely Lowered Through Roof

    Published: March 30, 2022
  • Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

    Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

    Published: March 1, 2022
  • Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entrants decontaminate equipment in the Munitions Washout System room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Since all projectiles have been destroyed, much of this equipment is no longer needed for chemical weapons destruction.

    Decontamination Efforts Begin on Projectile Equipment

    Published: February 8, 2022
  • An operator cuts up the buffer tank from the mustard-processing off-gas treatment system at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 1200 site Jan. 11. The tank pieces are being disposed of as scrap and a new buffer tank will be installed for the upcoming drained VX rocket warhead destruction campaign.

    Equipment Removed for Site Upgrade

    Published: February 1, 2022
  • Workers guide a stand-by diesel generator as it is lifted by a crane in preparation for placement on its foundation at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber 2000 site Jan. 11. During operations, this generator will provide back-up power in the event of a total power outage.

    From Tents to Today, a Year at the New Site

    Published: January 27, 2022
  • A team of Blue Grass plant operators demonstrate the process for loading a tanker during a visit of local and state officials on Sept. 21.

    State, Local Officials Observe Tanker Loading in Preparation for Hydrolysate Shipment

    Published: October 5, 2021
  • A scientist holds a slice of the propellant portion of a rocket motor, a shaped chemical compound known as the propellant. After being separated from the rocket warheads during the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant destruction process, the motors are crated and stored pending their shipment for disposal as a secondary waste.

    Rocket Motors Stored to Await Destruction

    Published: September 30, 2021
  • A training specialist explains the automated rocket processing equipment installed at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell during his visit to the facility Aug. 18.

    Senator McConnell Visits Training Facility

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • Members of two community advisory groups watch as a robot moves a containerized punched and drained VX test rocket warhead during a tour at the Duncannon Training Center for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Community Advisory Group Members Tour Training Facility

    Published: August 17, 2021
  • A robot moves a non-contaminated rocket motor separated from its warhead to place it into a shipping crate in the Motor Packing Room at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The motors, in their shipping and firing tubes, will be packaged and transported to Anniston, Alabama, for disposal in a Static Detonation Chamber unit.

    Rocket Motors Extensively Studied Before Shipment

    Published: July 29, 2021
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Other Recent BGCAPP News

  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – April 2022

    May 2, 2022
  • Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    Entire U.S. Stockpile of VX Nerve Agent Eliminated

    April 20, 2022
  • Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    April 19, 2022
  • U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    U.S. Chemical Demilitarization Transparency Event Held for International Organization

    March 31, 2022
  • BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    March 31, 2022

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)