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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)

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New Rocket Processing System Passes Test

Published: July 9, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, Technology
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.

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. During operations, the system will containerize and palletize M55 rocket warheads that have been drained of their agent. The warheads will later be destroyed in one of the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber units.

Factory acceptance testing of the new Blue Grass rocket processing equipment successfully concluded in early June.

“All test objectives were successfully achieved,” said Jeff Brubaker, technical advisor, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “The most notable was meeting our processing objective of 25 rockets per hour.”

During operations, robots will place drained rocket warheads into containers and top them with a special cap. Equipment will crimp the containers to seal them. The robots will then place each container on an Autonomous Mobile Robot, which will transfer it to another automated station where it will be packaged for safe storage while awaiting processing in one of the two Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber units. These systems were tested during the June event, Brubaker said.

Prior to the reception of the equipment by project personnel, it must be proven to meet objectives through operational testing before it leaves the manufacturer, Brubaker said. The testing took place at the Louisville, Kentucky, manufacturer’s facility and involved two processing lines operating simultaneously, as will occur during the actual destruction of the munitions. Following the system test, random containers were selected for and passed drop and pressure tests.

“Once the equipment arrives, we will start training workers on it,” said Ron Hink, project manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “We are creating a new training center to familiarize workers with the operation of this new system. The equipment should ship to us around the middle of July, and we look forward to getting it installed and ready for that training shortly thereafter.”

Removal of existing rocket line equipment that is no longer necessary is ongoing within the Munitions Demilitarization Building now the first nerve-agent destruction campaign has ended.

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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Recent BGCAPP Articles

  • 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
  • BGCAPP Monthly Recap – February 2021

    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – February 2021

    February 25, 2021
  • March Public Meeting Continues on Online Platform

    March Public Meeting Continues on Online Platform

    February 24, 2021
  • Drill Enhances Emergency Response

    Drill Enhances Emergency Response

    February 9, 2021

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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)