On July 7, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, destroyed the last munition in the declared U.S. chemical weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot, known as BGAD, near Richmond, Kentucky. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, or PEO ACWA, was responsible for the safe and environmentally compliant destruction of these weapons. The destruction of the last munitions met the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023. PEO ACWA is now overseeing closure of the destruction facilities. The safety of the workforce, neighboring communities and environment is the program’s top priority during the closure phase.

The Blue Grass project consists of three destruction facilities and their support buildings:

• The main plant, which destroyed nerve agent contained in rockets and projectiles, is undergoing closure.
• The Static Detonation Chamber, or SDC, now known as the SDC 1200, originally destroyed mustard agent contained in projectiles. It has been modified and is now destroying containerized, drained rocket warheads containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent.
• The SDC 2000 originally destroyed overpacked rockets and rocket warheads, as well as rockets not suitable for processing in the main plant during operations. It is now destroying containerized, drained rocket warheads containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent.

The containerized warheads are considered secondary waste but are tracked to destruction by international verification inspectors with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Non-contaminated rocket motors were shipped off site and destroyed in the Anniston, Alabama, SDC unit. The last rocket motor was destroyed April 3, 2025.

The facilities are being closed in a safe, environmentally protective and compliant manner. The process of chemical agent destruction facility closure involves five major factors, noted below, and is sequenced to occur in compliance with all permits, regulations and requirements:

1. Decontamination: removal of residual chemical agent contamination to safe and environmentally protective levels, as prescribed by permits
2. Decommissioning: rendering equipment safe for removal and eventual demolition or follow-on use
3. Dispositioning: transfer of government personal property for reuse, sale, recycling or disposal; and reconfiguring real property for return to BGAD
4. Demolition: removal of facilities not required for future Army use
5. Administrative closeout: closure of environmental permits, closing of contracts and interagency agreements and archiving of records

Main Plant

Closure of BGCAPP’s main plant will be more involved and take longer than closure of the SDC units, due to its size and complexity. The Munitions Demilitarization Building contains multiple rooms and numerous pieces of equipment that require decontamination, decommissioning and dispositioning before its demolition.

SDC 1200

Once destruction of the containerized, drained VX rocket warheads as agent-contaminated secondary waste is completed, this facility will go through the five main steps of closure. As the facility is smaller and less complex than the main plant and is not enclosed in steel-reinforced concrete, the closure process is expected to take less time and manpower. The SDC unit is considered personal property (e.g., end item, material, spares and repair parts), as opposed to real property (e.g., land, buildings, utility systems and other infrastructure), and is being considered for reuse by other government organizations.

SDC 2000

Once destruction of the containerized, drained GB rocket warheads as agent-contaminated secondary waste is finished, the facility will undergo closure just as the SDC 1200 will. This larger SDC unit is also being considered for reuse within governmental organizations.

Property Disposition                     

Any buildings used directly for chemical agent destruction, such as the Munitions Demilitarization Building, will be demolished. The supercritical water oxidation system, originally intended to process hydrolysate before the decision was made to not use the system, will be decommissioned and demolished. Other buildings and infrastructure may be retained by BGAD as real property, as determined by U.S. Army mission requirements. Buildings and infrastructure not retained by the Army will be demolished as a part of the PEO ACWA closure process. As part of the disposition process, personal property, such as uncontaminated or decontaminated equipment, tools, excess parts and office furniture, will be screened for reuse within the Army and other federal organizations prior to being made available to the public as surplus.

Workforce               

Skilled, trained and experienced personnel are the hallmark of the project, with many having previous closure experience from other U.S. chemical demilitarization facilities. As the project continues through the closure phase, the workforce is being drawn down as activities conclude within their areas of expertise. To retain these qualified, experienced people, the government and contractor companies have programs in place to realign personnel with other available positions within their structures. Additionally, various government, community and business groups are investigating possibilities for retaining skilled personnel through other local business opportunities.

As demolition activities ramp up, the workforce will shift to a commercial contractor focus, with administrative, safety and other positions remaining from operations.

Environmental Compliance                      

The highest priority at BGCAPP is to ensure the utmost protection to the workforce, community and environment. During closure, BGCAPP continues to operate under local, state and federal laws and regulations. The closure process is principally governed under a hazardous waste permit issued by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, or KDEP, and under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA, as well as other applicable environmental regulations and permits administered by KDEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The end stage of the closure phase for each facility is the closeout of the RCRA and other permits, a major part of the Administrative Closeout phase.

Public Participation

Another key element of BGCAPP closure is the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission, or CAC, and its subcommittee, the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board, or CDCAB. The CAC and CDCAB hold joint public meetings on a regular basis. These meetings provide a forum for the BGCAPP staff, government officials, PEO ACWA leadership, members of the commission and the public to exchange information regarding plant closure in Kentucky. The CAC will remain active until either the end of closure activities or upon the request of the Kentucky governor. For information on how to get involved, please visit the BGCAPP Public Involvement website page.

Partner Organizations

BGAD originally stored 523 U.S. tons of mustard agent and nerve agents. The mission of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, or BGCA, was to support delivery of chemical munitions to BGCAPP while safely securing, storing and monitoring the chemical weapons stockpile. BGCA is also going through a closure phase but continues to support BGCAPP with certain activities. BGAD will continue its conventional weapons and other missions beyond the closure of BGCAPP and BGCA. Also, the Kentucky Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program will close approximately six months after all containerized, drained rocket warheads containing residual amounts of chemical agent are destroyed by the SDC units.

References:

• Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Closure Overview Fact Sheet
• Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Closure Terminology Fact Sheet