Mission and Safety
The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, destroyed the chemical weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky. The depot safely stored three types of chemical weapons since the 1940s until July 7, 2023, when destruction of the stockpile was completed at BGCAPP. The original stockpile consisted of projectiles containing mustard agent and projectiles and rockets containing nerve agents GB and VX. The Department of Defense’s Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, known as PEO ACWA, was responsible for the safe destruction of these weapons, thereby eliminating the risk associated with continued storage. PEO ACWA will now focus on facility closure. The safety of the workforce, neighboring communities and the environment will continue to be the program’s top priority.
BGCAPP Chemical Weapons Destruction Technologies
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 ensured the safe destruction of the stockpile.
Static Detonation Chamber
Static Detonation Chamber, or SDC, units were chosen to be part of the chemical weapons destruction process at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. SDC units augmented the main plant to destroy the entire mustard munition stockpile as well as nerve-agent containerized, undrained rocket warheads; rockets unsuitable for destruction in the main plant; and overpacked rockets. The SDC units are continuing operations during the closure phase to destroy containerized, drained rocket warheads. These items are considered agent-contaminated secondary waste.