BGCAPP Monthly Recap – February 2021 - Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)

BGCAPP Monthly Recap – February 2021

Published: February 25, 2021 | Category: BGCAPP News, Monthly Recap

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 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:
- As of Feb. 23, more than 68% of the mustard munitions have been destroyed.
- Continuation of processing.

Main Plant Update:

The main plant is using neutralization to destroy nerve agent munitions. The decision was made to not use the supercritical water oxidation system to process hydrolysate, the product of the neutralization process. This secondary waste will be shipped to a licensed and permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility.
The first 155mm projectiles containing VX nerve agent were processed Jan. 10.
This Month:
- As of Feb. 23, more than 25% of the VX 155mm nerve agent munitions have been destroyed.
- Robot-programming work being performed for rocket-processing equipment within the plant.
- Completion of Rocket Non-Destructive Evaluation equipment factory acceptance testing.

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:
- Continuation of site preparation and utility work.
- Placement of the off-gas treatment system thermal oxidizer on its foundation.
- Start of excavation for control room building.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting will be held:

March 3, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. ET
The meeting will be held online through the Microsoft Teams platform. For information about the meeting, contact the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (859) 626-8944 or bgoutreach@iem.com.

New to BGCAPP?

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is a state-of-the-art facility safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky. An Explosive Destruction Technology is destroying the mustard agent stockpile. The main plant is using neutralization to destroy the nerve agent stockpile. The decision was made to not use the supercritical water oxidation system to process hydrolysate, the product of the neutralization process. This secondary waste will be shipped to a licensed and permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility. The safety of the workforce and the environment, as well as of the neighboring communities, is the project’s most important priority.