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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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Extensive Planning Leads to Successful Operation

Published: August 28, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, Safety
Extensive Planning Leads to Successful Operation

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Analytical and Remediation Activity East experts practice removing the fuze from a rocket warhead prior to a fuze-removal operation in late July. The fuzes were used to test Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber destruction processes. (Photo courtesy Blue Grass Chemical Activity)

Experts successfully removed fuzes from 30 M56 rocket warheads containing VX chemical agent stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in late July.

“The operation was a success,” said Rick Wright, quality assurance specialist ammunition surveillance, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “Excellent preparation made for a smooth operation. The level of comfort and teamwork between the teams was very evident.”

The operation was completed by the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Analytical and Remediation Activity (CARA) East team with the support of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, Wright said. The team arrived earlier in July to prepare for the mission and train with chemical activity personnel in a pre-operational survey.

“The pre-operational survey is a great tool and I believe it was an integral part in leading to a safe and smooth operation,” Wright said. “Our assessment included equipment preparation, employee training, inventory and accountability, fuze preparation and packaging, security, surety and emergency response.”

Several years ago, the rocket warheads were separated from their motors, which were then sent to Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey for propellant stability studies. The CARA East experts removed the fuzes from the warheads and safely packaged them for shipment to the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives field office at Anniston Army Depot in Alabama for testing in their Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) unit. The warheads were repackaged and returned to storage to await destruction in one of the Blue Grass SDC units.

More BGCAPP Environment Articles

  • Workers remove used carbon filters from the Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology air filtration system for disposal as hazardous waste.

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Published: April 19, 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
  • Workers drill holes for structural steel placement on the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 Off-gas Treatment System Building foundation at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. A public comment period is open through March 16 for a permit modification request for this system.

    Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit

    Published: February 23, 2022
  • A worker guides a crane after its placement of the thermal oxidizer for the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 unit at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The SDC 1200 requires a completely new off-gas treatment system in order to process drained, containerized VX nerve-agent warheads.

    New Pollution Abatement System Under Construction

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • A forklift operator is guided by spotters as he loads a crate of non-contaminated rocket motors onto a truck at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant July 20. The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has opened a public comment period for plant modification requests that include additional storage space for the motors.

    Public Comment Period Open for Hydrolysate Shipment, Rocket Motor Storage

    Published: July 29, 2021
  • A truck and tank trailer sit in the tanker loading station at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Project Managers to Discuss Hydrolysate Shipment at June 9 Public Meeting

    Published: June 3, 2021
  • A deer browses in an experimental plot of American chestnut trees on the Blue Grass Army Depot near the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The depot is a partner in a conservation project to propagate blight-resistant versions of the American chestnut tree.

    Blue Grass Partner Assists with Conservation Effort

    Published: April 30, 2021
  • Technicians program a Rocket Warhead Containerization System robot inside the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in February. This equipment is the subject of one of four Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection permit modification requests currently in a public comment period.

    Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests

    Published: April 5, 2021
  • Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

    Published: January 28, 2021
  • First-Time Filter Change Activity

    First-Time Filter Change Activity

    Published: December 29, 2020
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Related 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

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

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

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

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    BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2022

    March 31, 2022

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