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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
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      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

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  • BLUE GRASS
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      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.

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      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.

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Neutralization

  • Neutralization
  • Static Detonation Chamber
Home Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) BGCAPP Destruction Technologies Neutralization

How Neutralization Works

The Blue Grass plant uses neutralization to destroy the nerve agent stockpile. Extensively trained, knowledgeable, skilled workers and state-of-the-art robotics systems ensure the safe destruction of the stockpile.

Neutralization of Agent

Robotic equipment disassembles the munitions and the nerve agent is drained and separated from the explosive components (energetics). The Rocket Warhead Containerization System will further process the drained rocket warheads. The nerve agent is mixed vigorously with hot water and sodium hydroxide to destroy, or neutralize, it. The resulting product, known as hydrolysate, is held and tested to ensure chemical agent destruction before being shipped to an off-site treatment, storage and disposal facility for processing.

disposal of metal parts

Disposing of the Metal Parts

The metal parts of the projectiles were first heated to more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 15 minutes in the Metal Parts Treater for thermal decontamination. The metal parts were then safely recycled. (A portion of this image has been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

Rocket Handling System

Rocket Handling System

After the M55 rocket warheads have been separated from the rocket motor and drained of chemical agent, a state-of-the-art robotics system places the warheads into containers for safe transfer to the Static Detonation Chamber for destruction.

Filter banks

Gas Filtration

Gases are filtered through a series of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) and carbon filters before being released into the atmosphere.

Learn More: Static Detonation Chamber

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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)