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PEO ACWA
- Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
  
  Mission: Destroy Chemical Weapons Stockpile
  
  Vision: Chemical Weapons Free by 2023
- About PEO ACWA
- PEO ACWA Media Library
BLUE GRASS
- Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)
  
  BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.
- BGCAPP Homepage
- BGCAPP Media Library
PUEBLO
- Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)
  
  PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.
- PCAPP Homepage
- PCAPP Media Library
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The Blue Grass Army Depot originally stored more than 523 tons of mustard and nerve agent in rockets and projectiles.

Storage igloos at The U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot

VX CAMPAIGN COMPLETE: MAY 28, 2021

155mm Projectiles

8-inch Projectiles

M55 Rockets

CAMPAIGN COMPLETE: MAY 11, 2020

VX CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY

H CAMPAIGN COMPLETE: SEPT. 4, 2021

155mm Projectiles

The 155mm projectile is a World War II-type munition. The 155mm projectiles in the Blue Grass stockpile contain mustard agent (H) or nerve agent (VX). Up to three colored bands, signifying the chemical agent within the munition, characterize its gray projectile body. The shell contains an adapter and a burster casing that screw into the nose of the shell, also allowing a fuze to screw into the nose of the projectile. The VX projectile cavity contains 6 lbs. of liquid agent and includes a burster well but no burster; the mustard agent projectiles contain 11.7 lbs. of liquid agent and a burster.

H CAMPAIGN INITIATED: JUNE 7, 2019; COMPLETED: SEPT. 4, 2021

VX CAMPAIGN INITIATED: JAN. 10, 2021; COMPLETED: MAY 28, 2021

8-inch Projectiles

The 8-inch projectile, manufactured in the early to mid-1960s, is used in 8-inch howitzer cannons to deliver and disperse chemical agents. The projectile has a hollow one-piece steel shell that is press fitted with a burster casing. The fuze cavity is sealed with a closing plug and gasket. The GB projectile cavity contains 14.5 lbs. of liquid nerve agent. A lifting lug is installed into the fuze cavity to ease handling and shipping.

CAMPAIGN INITIATED: JAN. 17, 2020

CAMPAIGN COMPLETED: MAY 11, 2020

M55 Rockets

The M55 rocket, produced in the late 1950s, provided toxic chemical offensive capability for large target areas at long range. Originally intended for battlefield use, the rocket consists of an aluminum nozzle assembly with spring-loaded fins, a rocket motor and a fused warhead containing chemical agent. Designed to carry approximately 11 lbs. of agent, the rockets remain packed in a cylindrical fiberglass shipping and ring tube.

VX CAMPAIGN INITIATED: JULY 9, 2021

BGCAPP is safely destroying a stockpile of chemical weapons currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.

Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

*Employment and payroll figures as of 31 August 2021; Quantity Destroyed as of 8 October 2021.

Chemical Weapons Destruction Technologies

Two technologies are safely destroying the Blue Grass stockpile.

MAIN PLANT

START DATE: JAN. 17, 2020
STATUS: OPERATIONAL

Neutralization

Neutralization was selected to destroy the nerve agent stockpile at the Blue Grass plant. Extensively trained, knowledgeable, skilled workers and state-of-the-art robotics systems ensure the safe destruction of the stockpile.

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EXPLOSIVE DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

START DATE: JUNE 7, 2019
STATUS: CHANGEOVER

Static Detonation Chamber

Static Detonation Chamber units are part of the chemical weapons destruction process at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The SDC was chosen to augment the main plant to destroy the entire mustard munition stockpile as well as drained rocket warheads and overpacked munitions.

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Upcoming Meetings

Due to COVID-19, future public meetings will not be held in person until further notice. Please check back soon for additional information.

Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board Meeting will be held on Dec. 8, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. EST.
For information, please contact the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (859) 626‑8944, or bgoutreach@iem.com.