May 2022 Recap: Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant

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

Published: May 31, 2022 | Category: BGCAPP News, Monthly Recap

Highlights

Main Plant Update:

The main plant is using neutralization to destroy nerve-agent munitions. During operations, hydrolysate and non-agent-contaminated rocket motors, both considered secondary waste, are being shipped to permitted waste disposal facilities for final destruction.
GB nerve agent 8-inch projectile destruction began in January 2020 and was completed in May 2020.
VX nerve agent 155mm projectile destruction began in January 2021 and was completed in May 2021.
VX nerve agent M55 rocket destruction began in July 2021 and was completed in April 2022.

This Month:
- Continuation of changeover period to prepare for GB nerve agent M55 rocket destruction.
- Decontamination of equipment and areas of the plant.
- Optimization of rocket-processing equipment.
- Preventive and corrective maintenance.

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, such as drained GB rocket warheads.
This Month:
- Continuing installation of automated loading station equipment.
- Completing external work on enclosure building.
- Finish-out work on Entry Control Facility and installation of equipment.

SDC 1200 Update:

Now that destruction of the mustard-agent munitions 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, and potentially drained and undrained GB rocket warheads.
This Month:
- Retrofitting of system to destroy GB nerve agent due to potential conditions of the munitions, some of which may not be able to be readily destroyed through the main plant.
- Alignment of cradle and refurbishing of detonation chamber and loading chambers.
- Updating standard operating procedures to support nerve-agent operations.

EDT Facility

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

Upcoming Meetings

A public event recognizing the destruction of all VX nerve agent weapons in the U.S. stockpile will be held Wednesday, June 8, 2022, in Eastern Kentucky University’s Carl D. Perkins Building, Rooms A-D, in Richmond, Kentucky, at 1 p.m. EDT, with the quarterly public Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting following at 2 p.m. EDT.

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 and undrained 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.