For Blue Grass Workers, Big Achievements Add Up as Closure Continues

A Blue Grass plant worker uses caustic solution to pressure wash the floor in the Explosive Containment Vestibule 2 in February 2024 as his co-worker looks on to ensure safety. Workers have reached what is called the Liquid Generation Completed milestone in the decommissioning of the main plant. That means caustics and steam are no longer being used in the main plant closure, and all tanks have been flushed.
A Blue Grass plant worker uses caustic solution to pressure wash the floor in the Explosive Containment Vestibule 2 in February 2024 as his co-worker looks on to ensure safety. Workers have reached what is called the Liquid Generation Completed milestone in the decommissioning of the main plant. That means caustics and steam are no longer being used in the main plant closure, and all tanks have been flushed.

Several separate tasks are adding up to significant closure progress for workers at the Blue Grass plant.

“Separately they may not sound like much, but together, they add up to big achievements,” said Dave Apodaca, closure manager, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass. “By breaking larger jobs into smaller pieces, it keeps the team focused on safety, the task at hand, and how it adds up to bigger goals in the main plant closure.”

Workers recently reached what is known as Liquid Generation Completed, meaning they no longer are generating large quantities of liquid, Apodaca said. Although some minor washing with water may occur, the use of caustics and steam has ended.

The Spent Decontamination System tanks have also been emptied for the last time, and the tanker loading station that served the main plant for hydrolysate shipment has been emptied and will be cleaned.

In early June, workers ended the use of the Metal Parts Treater, which played a major role in thermally treating projectile bodies and, more recently, in the treatment of metal parts during decommissioning activities, Apodaca said. That ensured metal met all environmental standards for recycling. This also means nitrogen used as part of the process is no longer needed and shipments can end.

“It’s not an official milestone, but it’s something we need to do, and it saves money for the project,” Apodaca said.

While main plant closure activities are ongoing, workers continue destroying secondary waste, including drained, containerized rocket warheads containing residual amounts of nerve agent, in the Static Detonation Chambers 1200 and 2000.

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