The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, is in the closure phase, planned to be complete in 2027. From 2019 to 2023, the BGCAPP team destroyed 101,764 projectiles and rockets containing 523.4 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
- Workers completed 95% destruction of the containerized rocket warheads (CRW) containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent in the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 July 23.
- The BGCAPP team and Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) hosted inspectors from the U.S. Army Materiel Command July 28 through 30.
- Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons conducted their quarterly review July 14 through 16 with no issues noted.
- Main plant closure activities continue ahead of schedule.
- Cleaning and testing activities continue in the empty storage igloos.
Safety
- As of June 30, workers completed 17,122,120 hours and 2,117 days without a lost-time accident.
SDC 1200
- As of July 27, 89% of more than 17,000 CRWs containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent has been destroyed.
- Workers used outage time to make tilt-cradle repairs, replace seals and wiring, make conveyor adjustments, replace off-gas treatment system piping, clean locking-ring teeth and complete other maintenance activities.
SDC 2000
- As of July 27, workers destroyed more than 96% of more than 51,000 CRWs containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent.
- Workers used outage time to make tilt cradle repairs, replace sensors, check and replace seals and clamp fans, and conduct other maintenance activities.
Main Plant
- Removal of cameras, light fixtures, gauges and other waste continued from the Munitions Demilitarization Building (MDB).
- Workers began removal of all toxic tag-outs, opening manual valves and draining the secondary heat transfer system piping in the MDB.
- Unventilated monitoring tests have been successfully completed on 43 Chemical Limited Area storage igloos and 13 of 14 heating, ventilation and air conditioning filter bank units that served the MDB.
- Workers have completed 75% isolation of the utilities in the Container Handling Building.
Workforce
- 906 workers are employed on the project, with approximately 50% hired locally.
Public Outreach
- BGCAPP, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass and BGAD public affairs personnel conducted media outreach sessions July 9 to provide BGCAPP closure and BGAD current and continuation information to The Lexington Herald-Leader, WKYT-TV, WTVQ-TV, and WDKY-TV news staff.
- The BGCAPP site project manager provided information on the BGCAPP schedule, SDC operations, and other issues to the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission chair July 15.
Upcoming Meetings
- The next semiannual Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 3, 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. For information, contact the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant outreach staff at (800) 277-6819 or bgoutreach@iem.com.
