The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, is now in the closure phase. From 2019 to 2023, the BGCAPP team destroyed more than 101,000 projectiles and rockets containing 523 tons of GB and VX nerve agent and blister agent mustard, using neutralization and Explosive Destruction Technology. The last chemical weapon in the U.S. stockpile was destroyed on July 7, 2023, in Kentucky. The Blue Grass plant will be in the closure phase for approximately three years.
Highlights
- Hosted inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for quarterly inspection July 15-18.
- Hosted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff annual inspection July 15-16.
Safety
- As of June 30, 2024, completed 14,671,943 hours and 1,752 days without a lost-time accident.
Main Plant
- Removing equipment, instruments and piping and decontaminating and assessing Munitions Washout System room and Toxic Area in the Agent Processing Building.
- Removing bio-media and preparing for readiness-for-demolition assessment in the Biotreatment Area.
Static Detonation Chambers (SDC) 1200
- As of Aug. 4, 37.7% of more than 17,000 containerized rocket warheads (CRWs) containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent has been destroyed in the SDC 1200.
- Received Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection emissions testing approval July 12, clearing the way for full throughput processing rate.
- Completed planned and unplanned outages for quench tower cleanout, conical heater replacement, and other maintenance.
SDC 2000
- As of Aug. 4, 49.98% of more than 51,000 CRWs containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent has been destroyed in the SDC 2000.
- Repaired detonation chamber clamp pins.
- Continuing planned maintenance to maximize processing efficiency.
Main Plant
- Achieved Liquid Generation Completed milestone in early July, marking the end of the use of caustic and steam in the plant. Large quantities of liquid are no longer being generated.
- Shipped last tanker load of condensate from the Metal Parts Treater off-gas treatment system July 22.
- Cleaning of Hydrolysate Storage Area tanks began July 26.
- Continue removing piping and instrumentation from the Agent Neutralization System.
Workforce
- 1,260 workers are employed on the project, with almost 50% being local hires.
Environmental Permitting
- Nothing to report.
Public Outreach
- Provided the History of Chemical Weapons and BGCAPP presentation to Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass (BPBG) summer college interns July 11.
- BPBG communications staff facilitated a July 24 news conference by the BPBG project manager for media members regarding a donation to endow a scholarship for veterans and their family members to attend Eastern Kentucky University.
Upcoming Meetings
- The next Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting will be held Wednesday, 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 Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant outreach staff at (859) 626-8944 or bgoutreach@iem.com.
