
*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 Feb. 22, more than 75% of the VX rockets have been destroyed.
- Continuing decommissioning activities for the Munitions Washout System.
- 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 secondary waste products from destruction of the nerve-agent rockets, drained GB rocket warheads.
- This Month:
- Continuing work on Entry Control Facility.
- Installation of conduits and supports.
- Continuing installation of main air-filtration system.
SDC 1200 Update:
- Now that the mustard campaign is complete, BGCAPP is converting the Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) into the SDC 1200 to destroy secondary waste products from destruction of the nerve-agent rockets, drained VX rocket warheads.
- This Month:
- Successful completion of decontamination verification testing.
- Received approval from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to no longer monitor for mustard agent.
- Continuing preparations for placement of new off-gas treatment system buffer tank.
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
Carl J. Perkins Building, Rooms A and B
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky
The meeting will be in person with an online option. 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.