The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, is 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
- BGCAPP received a spare updated fragmentation shield from the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to replace a damaged one in the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200.
- Main plant closure activities continued ahead of schedule and the destruction of drained, containerized rocket warheads (CRWs) containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent continued in the SDC 2000.
- BGCAPP continues to remove waste from closure activities which is shipped to scrap metal facilities and permitted hazardous waste facilities.
Safety
- As of Dec. 31, workers completed 15,950,394 hours and 1,936 days without a lost-time accident.
SDC 1200
- As of Jan. 26, 60% of more than 17,000 drained, containerized rocket warheads (CRW) containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent have been destroyed.
- Processing remained paused in January for replacement of the fragmentation shield. Work is expected to take several more weeks. Processing will resume when repairs have been completed.
- SDC 1200 workers have conducted maintenance activities, such as inspections, troubleshooting air compressors and replacing filters, and assisted at the SDC 2000 when needed.
SDC 2000
- As of Jan. 26, workers destroyed almost 68% of more than 51,000 drained CRWs containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent.
- During outages, workers replaced conical heaters, milled and sealed cracks in the bottom of the destruction chamber, replaced hose clamps, replaced gaskets and seals, performed inspections, installed a Demilitarization Protective Ensemble radio system and conducted other maintenance activities.
Main Plant
- Workers are completing concrete sampling in the Munitions Washout System Room in preparation for unventilated monitoring tests.
- Workers continued removing a layer of concrete, known as scabbling, in the Agent Neutralization System Room.
- The first pre-filters and high-efficiency particulate air filters from the Munitions Demilitarization Building (MDB) heating, ventilation and air conditioning units were shipped for disposal Jan. 28.
- Piping and component removal continues in the upper levels of the MDB, and cleaning activities continue in the Blue Grass Chemical Activity storage igloos.
Workforce
- 1,220 workers are employed on the project, with 50% hired locally.
Public Outreach
- The BGCAPP site project manager provided the monthly closure and schedule update to the chairman of the Kentucky Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC) and Madison County Judge Executive Jan. 28.
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.
