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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
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      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

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Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

Published: March 1, 2022 | Category: BGCAPP News, Environment, Technology
Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

The facility responsible for destroying all the mustard-agent projectiles at the Blue Grass plant passed a final air-monitoring test to allow workers to safely open the building to install equipment for the next activity.

“In January, workers completed agent decontamination activities within the Explosive Destruction Technology Enclosure Building, culminating in testing that verified it met the most stringent of agent decontamination standards,” said Dr. George Lucier, deputy chief scientist, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “This means everything within the building has been decontaminated to the point where it is at or below the acceptable air monitoring standard for the safety of workers, the community and the environment.”

This decontamination verification testing is the final agent air monitoring evaluation for formerly contaminated facilities after potential sources of chemical agent have been eliminated, said Lucier. This includes the search for and treatment of occluded spaces, which are areas that could potentially trap chemical agent that might not be reached by standard decontamination methods. The basic test method is to close up the building or area, turn off the ventilation to that area for a prescribed amount of time, then monitor the air for traces of chemical agent.

“Without the ventilation system pulling facility air through the filtration system, potentially undiscovered chemical agent sources off-gas and are detectable during this test,” Lucier said. “When detections are made, a team goes in to track down and decontaminate the source, and then the test is repeated. The facility and all equipment inside it passed the decontamination verification testing, and workers will now be able to safely continue preparation for the next activity.”

The facility is currently being modified to destroy containerized VX rocket warheads that have been drained of their chemical agent in the main plant and will be known as the Static Detonation Chamber 1200.

More BGCAPP News Articles

  • Workers install portions of the automated loading system for the Blue Grass Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 in the SDC 2000 Enclosure Building April 4. This equipment will take the place of human munitions handlers in loading containerized or overpacked munitions and components into the chamber for destruction.

    State Regulator Approves Two Blue Grass Permit Modifications

    Published: May 23, 2022
  • Workers remove used carbon filters from the Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology air filtration system for disposal as hazardous waste.

    Teamwork Key to Removing Used Carbon Filters

    Published: April 19, 2022
  • Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

    Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

    Published: March 1, 2022
  • Workers drill holes for structural steel placement on the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 Off-gas Treatment System Building foundation at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. A public comment period is open through March 16 for a permit modification request for this system.

    Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit

    Published: February 23, 2022
  • A worker guides a crane after its placement of the thermal oxidizer for the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 unit at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The SDC 1200 requires a completely new off-gas treatment system in order to process drained, containerized VX nerve-agent warheads.

    New Pollution Abatement System Under Construction

    Published: August 30, 2021
  • A forklift operator is guided by spotters as he loads a crate of non-contaminated rocket motors onto a truck at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant July 20. The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has opened a public comment period for plant modification requests that include additional storage space for the motors.

    Public Comment Period Open for Hydrolysate Shipment, Rocket Motor Storage

    Published: July 29, 2021
  • A truck and tank trailer sit in the tanker loading station at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

    Project Managers to Discuss Hydrolysate Shipment at June 9 Public Meeting

    Published: June 3, 2021
  • A deer browses in an experimental plot of American chestnut trees on the Blue Grass Army Depot near the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The depot is a partner in a conservation project to propagate blight-resistant versions of the American chestnut tree.

    Blue Grass Partner Assists with Conservation Effort

    Published: April 30, 2021
  • Technicians program a Rocket Warhead Containerization System robot inside the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in February. This equipment is the subject of one of four Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection permit modification requests currently in a public comment period.

    Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests

    Published: April 5, 2021
  • Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

    Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

    Published: January 28, 2021
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Related News

  • Kentucky Event Highlights End of VX Weapons in U.S.

    Kentucky Event Highlights End of VX Weapons in U.S.

    June 21, 2022
  • Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – May 2022

    Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – May 2022

    May 31, 2022
  • Changeover Period Begins at Blue Grass Plant

    Changeover Period Begins at Blue Grass Plant

    May 31, 2022
  • Special Event for Chemical Weapons Destruction Followed by Public Meeting June 8

    Special Event for Chemical Weapons Destruction Followed by Public Meeting June 8

    May 31, 2022
  • State Regulator Approves Two Blue Grass Permit Modifications

    State Regulator Approves Two Blue Grass Permit Modifications

    May 23, 2022

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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)