• The last chemical weapon stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot was destroyed in the main plant July 7, 2023. This milestone also means the destruction of the nation’s declared chemical weapons stockpile is complete. The main plant used neutralization to destroy the nerve agent munitions.
• Overall, more than 101,000 projectiles and rockets containing 523.4 tons of chemical agent, including VX and GB nerve agent and mustard agent, were destroyed.
• The main plant is in the closure phase, which will take approximately three years. Plant closure involves the decontamination and decommissioning of facilities and equipment, disposition of property, demolition of facilities not required for future U.S. Army use, and closure of government contracts and environmental permits in accordance with laws and regulations. During closure, caustic water solution created during equipment decontamination is considered secondary waste and is being shipped off-site for final destruction.
• The safety of the workforce, community and environment continues to be the plant’s highest priority during the closure phase.

• This Month:
  • Completed concrete chip sampling in Explosive Containment Vestibules 1 and 2 and the Energetics Batch Hydrolyzer Room.
  • Received approval for the storage igloo closure plan from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.
  • Completed flushing the off-gas treatment system as part of the shutdown of the Metal Parts Treater.
  • Began the shutdown of Thermal Oxidizer 1.
  • Began removing carbon filter trays from Munitions Demilitarization Building filter banks for sampling.
  • Continued pressure washing and removal of agent-collection tanks in the Agent Neutralization System Room and other areas.
  • Continued preparation for unventilated monitoring tests.
  • Shipped last Enhanced On-site Containers off-site for recycling.
  • Continued waste management activities.

• The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) is using the SDC 2000 unit to destroy containerized rocket warheads containing GB nerve agent residue, which are considered secondary waste.

• This Month:
  • As of June 30, 44.1% of more than 51,000 containerized rocket warheads containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent has been destroyed.
  • Completed repairs to the tilt cradle and process chillers.
  • Repaired Miniature Continuous Air Monitoring System.
  • Continued maintenance on sensors, off-gas treatment system, detonation chamber, quench tower and other systems.

• The Blue Grass SDC 1200 is destroying containerized rocket warheads containing VX nerve agent residue, which are considered secondary waste.

• This Month:
  • As of June 30, 34% of more than 17,000 containerized rocket warheads containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent has been destroyed.
  • Repaired the Loading Chamber conveyor.
  • Installed a new off-gas piping nozzle.
  • Performed preventative maintenance on the quench tower filtration, thermal oxidizer and other systems.

The next Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting will be held on Sept. 4, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. ET at the following location:

Carl D. Perkins Building, Rooms A and B
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky

A live video stream of the meeting will be available on the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/usaeacwa and the PEO ACWA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/peoacwa. For information, contact the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (859) 626-8944 or bgoutreach@iem.com.