The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, destroyed the chemical weapons stockpile at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky. BGCAPP is now in the closure phase which is expected to last into 2027. Starting with the destruction of the first munitions on June 7, 2019, the depot safely stored three types of chemical weapons from the 1940s until July 7, 2023, when destruction of the stockpile was completed. Containing more than 523 tons of chemicals, the original stockpile consisted of projectiles containing mustard agent and projectiles and rockets containing nerve agents GB and VX. Using neutralization, the main plant destroyed munitions containing nerve agent. A Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) augmented BGCAPP’s neutralization technology to destroy 15,492 155mm mustard projectiles, many of which were found unsuitable for processing through the main plant. As part of the closure process, workers now are using the SDC 1200 and SDC 2000 to destroy drained, containerized rocket warheads classified as secondary waste and containing residual amounts of nerve agent.

BGCAPP is being closed in a safe, environmentally compliant manner and in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and requirements. In addition to secondary waste destruction in the SDC units, the main plant is undergoing decontamination, dispositioning and destruction under a closure plan approved by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection in September 2023. Closure involves five major factors: decontamination, decommissioning, dispositioning, demolition and administrative closeout and will take approximately three years.

Notes for the Media

• If you wish to credit this footage, please use the following citation: Video footage courtesy of the U.S. Army.
• Some of the video clips contain natural sound.
• Portions of these videos have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense.

Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) Closure – June 2024-Present

• (0:00-0:47)
  A robotic arm moves a drained, containerized rocket warhead containing residual amounts of VX nerve agent from a pallet to a box on a conveyor system to be delivered to the detonation chamber for destruction in the Static Detonation Chamber 1200.
• (0:47-1:05)
  A box containing drained, containerized rocket warheads is pushed along a conveyor into the detonation chamber at the Static Detonation Chamber 1200.
• (1:05-1:46)
  Technicians wearing protective gear place drained, containerized rocket warheads containing residual amounts of GB nerve agent into boxes on a conveyor to be moved into the detonation chamber in the Static Detonation Chamber 2000.
• (1:46-2:21)
  A guide leads a forklift driver moving drained containerized rocket warheads (CRWs) from a truck into the Earth-Covered Magazine at the Static Detonation Chamber 2000, where the CRWs will be destroyed. The CRWs are sealed in plastic on the pallets for monitoring.
• (2:21-3:08)
  Handlers help entrants get into their Demilitarization Protective Ensemble suits before they enter a toxic area during decontamination and decommissioning activities that are part of closure of the main plant at BGCAPP. The operators go through an extensive checklist to make sure the entrants are safe during and following entries.
• (3:08-3:23)
  Toxic-area entrants always work in pairs so one can monitor the other for safety. Here, two entrants use robotic tools to break up concrete and scrape away the surface in toxic areas in a process known as scabbling.
• (3:23-4:05)
  Entrants wearing protective gear and masks use a small portable crane to lift a piece of equipment for removal from the Agent Neutralization System Room during decommissioning activities as part of main plant closure.
• (4:05-4:34)
  Two workers in Demilitarization Protective Ensembles use a hand tool to cut up a metal beam as part of decommissioning activities.
• (4:34-5:34)
  Workers in Demilitarization Protective Ensembles load and move Super Sacks containing downsized materials during decommissioning and decontamination activities that are a major part of closure activities in the main plant at BGCAPP.
• (5:35-5:47)
  BGCAPP workers load containers of waste materials generated during closure activities onto a tractor-trailer for disposal at the permitted disposal location.
• (5:47-6:00)
  In one of many notable milestones achieved during closure activities, the last two Enhanced On-site Container are loaded onto a flatbed trailer for dispositioning at a local scrap metal dealer. The 19,000-pound, specially designed containers, were used to safely transport rocket warheads containing chemical agents from storage igloos to processing areas during BGCAPP operations.

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