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
- Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons completed their quarterly inspection of the main plant, Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) units and storage igloos Oct. 14 through 17.
- BGCAPP continues to make closure waste shipments to scrap metal facilities in Kentucky and Indiana and permitted hazardous waste facilities in Texas and Ohio.
Safety
- As of Sept. 30, workers completed 15,271,673 hours and 1,844 days without a lost-time accident.
SDC 1200
- As of Oct. 27, the workforce destroyed 59.06% of more than 17,000 containerized rocket warheads (CRWs) containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent in the SDC 1200.
- During outages, workers cleaned scrap conveyor systems, inspected detonation chamber locking ring teeth and performed other preventative maintenance activities.
SDC 2000
- As of Oct. 27, workers destroyed 56.22% of more than 51,000 CRWs containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent in the SDC 2000.
- During outages, workers repaired cracks in the detonation chamber, replaced a temperature indicator and conducted other preventative maintenance activities.
Main Plant
- Scabbling, which is the removal of coatings and the top surface of concrete, has been completed in the Munitions Washout System Room.
- Teams continue conducting unventilated monitoring tests in the Munitions Demilitarization Building.
- Workers continue removing piping in the Agent Neutralization System Room and started pressure washing the floors.
- Cleaning and monitoring activities continue in the storage igloos at the Blue Grass Chemical Activity.
Workforce
- 1,178 workers are employed on the project, with 50% being local hires.
Environmental Permitting
- BGCAPP submitted a permit modification request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection to allow processing of GB nerve agent CRWs in the SDC 1200 once VX CRW processing is complete. A public meeting is scheduled for Nov. 14, and the 60-day comment period runs Oct. 23 through Dec. 22, 2024.
Upcoming Meetings
- A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. ET at the following location:
Madison County Public Library, Richmond Branch
Conference Room 137
507 W. Main St.
Richmond, Kentucky
BGCAPP representatives will be available to answer questions and discuss the proposed revisions in a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment permit modification request filed with the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection regarding processing of GB nerve agent drained, containerized rocket warheads in the SDC 1200. For information, visit the Environmental Activities page or contact the BGCAPP outreach staff at (800) 277?6819 or bgoutreach@iem.com. Contact Mark York at mhyork@bechtel.us if you have special accessibility needs.
The 60-day comment period runs Oct. 23 through Dec. 22, 2024.
- 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.
