Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Monthly Recap – September 2024

BGCAPP Monthly Recap: September 2024

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 July 7, 2023, in Kentucky. The Blue Grass plant will be in the closure phase for approximately three years.

Highlights

  • U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell met with government, contractor and community leaders at the Sept. 4 Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC) and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board (CDCAB) meeting.

Safety

  • As of Aug. 31, completed 15,091,192 hours and 1,814 days without a lost-time accident.

Static Detonation Chambers (SDC) 1200

  • As of Sept. 29, the workforce has destroyed 51.9% of more than 17,000 containerized rocket warheads (CRWs) containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent in the SDC 1200.
  • Completed planned outage to replace an off-gas treatment system nozzle and quench pump valve, conduct annual destruction chamber internal inspection, replace dust covers, and perform other preventative maintenance activities.

SDC 2000

  • As of Sept. 29, the workforce has destroyed 54% of more than 51,000 CRWs containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent in the SDC 2000.
  • Operations were paused Sept. 5 so engineers could perform unscheduled maintenance to repair cracks in the outside of the destruction chamber and replace conical heaters as well as regular maintenance to improve efficiency.

Main Plant

  • Completed cleaning of Hydrolysate Storage Area tanks in preparation for their future demolition.
  • Completed successful unventilated monitoring tests in Motor Packing, Metal Parts Treater and Energizer Batch Hydrolyzer rooms in the Munitions Demilitarization Building.
  • Continued tank and reactor decommissioning activities and removal of piping and instrumentation in the Agent Neutralization System room.
  • Continued cleaning and monitoring activities in the Blue Grass Chemical Activity storage igloos.

Workforce

  • 1,189 workers are employed on the project, with 50% being local hires.

Public Outreach

  • Facilitated and livestreamed the Sept. 4 Kentucky CAC/CDCAB meeting and posted the meeting video to the Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives YouTube page.

Upcoming Meetings

  • The next Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting will be held Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 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 (800) 277-6819 or bgoutreach@iem.com.
Scroll to Top