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

BGCAPP Monthly Recap – December 2021

Published: December 21, 2021 | Category: BGCAPP News, Monthly Recap

*Employment and payroll figures as of 31 December 2020; Quantity Destroyed as of 22 January 2021.

Highlights

Main Plant Update:

The main plant is using neutralization to destroy nerve-agent munitions. Secondary waste from the process, known as hydrolysate, is being shipped to a licensed and permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility.
The GB 8-inch projectile destruction campaign began in January 2020 and was completed in May 2020.
The VX 155mm 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, 2021.
This Month:
- - As of Dec. 17, 43.3% of the VX rockets have been destroyed.
  - Report being developed from VX rocket emissions testing.
  - Continuation of processing.

Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 Update:

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (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 enclosure building roof.
- Placement of monitoring shack for Earth-Covered Magazine.
- Installation of cable trays and piping in pipe racks.

SDC 1200 Update:

BGCAPP is converting the Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) into the SDC 1200 to destroy a portion of the nerve-agent munitions, drained VX rocket warheads, now the mustard campaign is complete.
This Month:
- Preparation for removal of existing buffer tank.
- Removal of filter bank for storage magazine.
- Steel placement and wall panel installation continues for new off-gas treatment system building.

EDT Facility:

The EDT facility at BGCAPP used an SDC to destroy the mustard-agent munitions.
The mustard-agent 155mm projectile campaign began in June 2019 and was completed in September 2021.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting will be held:
March 9, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. ET
The meeting format has yet to be decided. 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. 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 is shipped to a licensed and permitted hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility. A Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) destroyed the mustard agent stockpile. This SDC, along with a larger SDC 2000, will augment the main plant by destroying drained rocket warheads and overpacked rockets. The safety of the workforce and the environment, as well as of the neighboring communities, is the project’s most important priority.