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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
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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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BGCAPP Project Stages

  • Public Involvement at BGCAPP
    • BGCAPP Public Involvement Meeting Summaries
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    • Neutralization
    • Static Detonation Chamber
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  • Operation Swift Solution
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    • Archive: Environmental Activities at BGCAPP
      • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Background Information
  • Hydrolysate Shipments from BGCAPP
Home Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) BGCAPP Project Stages

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or BGCAPP, is safely and efficiently destroying a stockpile of chemical weapons currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot. Utilizing neutralization, the main plant is destroying munitions containing nerve agent. After the neutralization of nerve agent, the resulting product, called hydrolysate, is shipped to an off-site treatment, storage and disposal facility for processing. As part of the rocket campaign, the Rocket Warhead Containerization System assists with destroying drained rocket warheads. Additionally, the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC), an explosive destruction technology, augmented BGCAPP’s neutralization technology to destroy approximately 15,000 155mm mustard projectiles in the Blue Grass stockpile, many of which were found unsuited for processing through the main plant. The current SDC, as well as a larger SDC unit will also augment the main plant to destroy drained rocket warheads and overpacked munitions.

In 2003, the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team was awarded the systems contract to facilitate the pilot plant through all of the project stages – design, construction, systemization, operations and closure. Operations are underway in the main plant. For updates on plant progress, view the BGCAPP Monthly Status Briefings.

The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, known as PEO ACWA, is the Department of Defense agency responsible for managing the destruction of the Blue Grass chemical weapons stockpile and oversees the Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass contract.

Upon completion of stockpile destruction, the facility will be closed in accordance with all applicable laws, requirements and regulations. The Blue Grass Army Depot will remain open and continue its conventional munition missions.

Five Project Stages

Stage 1: DESIGN

The facility was specifically designed to safely and efficiently destroy chemical weapons.

Status: Complete

Stage 2: CONSTRUCTION

Construction was led by a team that has successfully designed, built and/or operated all of the chemical destruction facilities in the United States.

Status: Complete

Stage 3: SYSTEMIZATION

All machinery, equipment and processes were operated and tested with water or simulants to ensure each function together as an integrated system.

Status: Complete

Stage 4: OPERATIONS

Once systemization was satisfactorily completed, operations began with the gradual introduction of actual agent-filled munitions into the system.

Status: Underway

Stage 5: CLOSURE

Encompasses the planning and preparation, disposal of secondary waste, facility and equipment decontamination and decommissioning and demolition of facilities in accordance with public law and U.S. Army direction. Environmental permits are closed, personal property is dispositioned, real property is returned to Blue Grass Army Depot and the contract is closed.

Status: Planning

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