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

BGCAPP Monthly Recap – September 2021

Published: September 30, 2021 | Category: BGCAPP News, Monthly Recap

Highlights

Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) Facility Update:

The EDT facility at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) 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:
- On Sept. 4, the last mustard munitions and two Department of Transportation storage bottles were destroyed in the SDC.
- The facility will now be known as the SDC 1200. *See below for further information.

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 GB 8-inch nerve-agent projectile destruction campaign began in January 2020 and was completed in May 2020.
The VX 155mm nerve-agent projectile destruction campaign began in January 2021 and was completed in May 2021.
The first M55 rockets containing VX nerve agent were destroyed at the Blue Grass plant July 9.
This Month:
- As of Sept. 26, more than 14% of the VX rockets have been destroyed.
- A brief operational pause began Sept. 20 when area hospitals were unable to support the plant in a chemical agent emergency or industrial accident scenario due to being at capacity. Operations resumed Sept. 24.
- Optimization of rocket-processing equipment.
- Continuation of processing.

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:
- Completion of roof panel installation on the SDC enclosure building.
- Placement of process chiller.
- Placement of Monitor House foundation.

SDC 1200 Update:

BGCAPP will convert the existing EDT to destroy a portion of the nerve agent munitions, drained rocket warheads, once its mustard-processing mission is complete.
This Month:
- Decontamination of SDC components.
- Start of installation of structural steel for off-gas treatment system enclosure building.
- Placement of chilled water plant foundation

Upcoming Meetings

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

Dec. 8, 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 destroyed 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.