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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)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

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Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

Published: September 10, 2020 | Category: BGCAPP News, Safety, Technology
Decision Made Regarding Use of Secondary System

A worker helps prepare one of the supercritical water oxidation reactors for installation at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in 2013.

The Blue Grass supercritical water oxidation system, originally intended for treatment of a specific plant secondary waste, will no longer be used. Chemical weapons will continue to be destroyed at the Blue Grass plant.

“Based on the performance of the system during testing and the events encountered, there are operational concerns,” said Dr. Candace Coyle, site project manager, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. “After careful consideration of many studies, reports, observational data and discussions with community representatives, the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program executive officer made the decision to ship hydrolysate off site.”

The supercritical water oxidation, or SCWO, system, was designed to use a high-temperature and pressure process to treat hydrolysate, the liquid product of the chemical weapons destruction process. During testing, multiple issues were discovered that raised reliability concerns to the point a decision was necessary to determine the path forward for the system, Coyle said.

“Part of the decision included the potential for transitioning the SCWO to another Army organization for evaluation, development and testing for other uses in the future,” Coyle said. “Just identifying causes of and working through the current issues could take three to five years, and we need to stay on track to destroy the chemical weapons by the congressionally mandated deadline of Dec. 31, 2023.”

Instead of being treated through the SCWO system, it is planned for hydrolysate to be shipped to a licensed and permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility, Coyle said. There will be an opportunity for public comment on the permitting process for off-site shipment, likely in 2021.

The current SCWO workforce is already being transitioned to other project duties, with several remaining to support hydrolysate loading operations.

More BGCAPP Environment Articles

  • 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
  • Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification

    Published: October 13, 2020
  • Blue Grass plant munitions handlers unpack filters in anticipation of the Explosive Destruction Technology Service Magazine filter changeout at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant

    Workers Complete Filter Change

    Published: August 20, 2020
  • Site preparation continues at the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modifications

    Published: July 16, 2020
  • A waste operator practices moving waste drums on pallets at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Container Storage Facility. The plant’s hazardous waste is regulated by a standard hazardous waste permit through the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.

    Permit Conversion Public Comment Period Open Through Dec. 11

    Published: December 5, 2019
  • A technician watches as a tray of test projectile bodies moves through the Metal Parts Treater (MPT) for a conveyor alignment check at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The MPT Surrogate Test Plan was the subject of a recent Class 1 modification to the plant’s hazardous waste permit.

    Minor Permit Modifications Routine Business for Plant

    Published: August 20, 2019
  • Col. Joseph Kurz, commander, Blue Grass Army Depot, discusses Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant processes with Ron Hink, project manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. The commander signed his acceptance of a Finding of No Significant Impact generated from a May 2019 environmental assessment for augmentation of plant processing capability July 1.

    Signature Signals Path Forward for Additional Equipment

    Published: July 25, 2019
  • Madison County, Kentucky, residents listen to a presentation about the environmental assessment for the proposed action for processing nerve agent-filled munitions at the Blue Grass Army Depot at a May 21 public meeting. The public comment period for this action ends June 17.

    Environmental Assessment Public Comment Period Open Through June 17

    Published: May 31, 2019
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Related News

  • 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

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