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

BGCAPP Monthly Recap – March 2021

Published: March 31, 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 March 29, 75% of the mustard munitions have been destroyed.
- Continuation of processing.
- Arrival of equipment to convert the EDT to the SDC 1200 for processing of drained rocket warheads when mustard processing is complete.

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 March 27, 50% of the VX 155mm nerve agent munitions have been destroyed.
- Conduction of emissions testing for VX nerve-agent processing.
- Start of Systems Demonstration Procedures for rocket-processing equipment.
- Installation of Rocket Non-Destructive Examination equipment.

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.
- Arrival of SDC 2000 detonation chamber and components and start of component placement on main foundation.
- Placement of the Control Room on its foundation.

Upcoming Meetings

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

June 9, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. ET
The meeting format has not yet been determined. 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.