The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, is now in the closure phase, which will last approximately three years. 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.
Highlights
- Two custom sideloader trucks used to safely move chemical weapons in transport containers during destruction operations were dispositioned and removed from the plant in early November.
- BGCAPP continues to make shipments of waste from closure activities to scrap metal facilities in Kentucky and Indiana as well as permitted hazardous waste facilities in Texas and Ohio.
Safety
- As of Oct. 31, workers completed 15,527,860 hours and 1,875 days without a lost-time accident.
SDC 1200
- As of Dec. 1, 60% of more than 17,000 drained, containerized rocket warheads (CRW) containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent have been destroyed in the SDC 1200.
- Processing was paused Nov. 2 for planned work to mill the fragmentation shield, which was damaged from continued use. During the milling, workers discovered the shield needed to be replaced. Work is underway but is expected to take several months. Processing will resume when all repairs have been completed.
SDC 2000
- As of Dec. 1, workers destroyed 61.5% of more than 51,000 drained CRWs containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent in the SDC 2000.
- During outages, workers replaced seals, performed inspections, troubleshot sensors, adjusted heaters and conducted other preventative maintenance activities to increase efficiency.
Main Plant
- Workers continue decommissioning the Metal Parts Treater and the Thermal Oxidizer units.
- Removal of sample tank and hydrolyzer piping and components from the second and third floors of the Agent Neutralization System Room is ongoing.
- Teams continue conducting head space, occluded space and unventilated monitoring tests in the Munitions Demilitarization Building.
- Cleaning and monitoring activities continue in the storage igloos at the Blue Grass Chemical Activity.
Workforce
- 1,233 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. The 60-day comment period runs through Dec. 22, 2024.
Public Outreach
- BGCAPP management provided a closure and schedule update to the Kentucky Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Integrated Process Team Nov. 13.
- BGCAPP and Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass environmental staff conducted a public meeting Nov. 14 for a Class 2 permit modification request to destroy GB nerve agent CRWs in the SDC 1200 as a contingency once VX CRW processing is complete.
- BGCAPP outreach staff provided a presentation to groups of first- through fifth-grade students about careers at BGCAPP and plant closure activities Nov. 26.
Upcoming Meetings
- The next semiannual Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for 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.
