National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
Environmental Assessment
- Final: Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
- Proposed Action for Processing Nerve Agent Munitions at Blue Grass Army Depot, Richmond, Kentucky
- Draft Finding of No Significant Impact
- Environmental Assessment Public Comments and ACWA Responses
- Final: Proposed Installation and Operation of an Explosive Destruction Technology Facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Richmond Kentucky, Finding of No Significant Impact
- Blue Grass Army Depot June 2013 EDT EA Public Comments and ACWA Responses
- Draft: Proposed Installation and Operation of an Explosive Destruction Technology Facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Richmond Kentucky, Finding of No Significant Impact
- June 2013: Proposed Installation and Operation of an Explosive Destruction Technology Facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Richmond, Kentucky
- Addendum to Multipathway Human Health Risk Assessment Report for Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) Alternatives at Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, March 2013
- Fact Sheet: Environmental Assessment of Proposed Installation and Operation of an Explosive Destruction Technology Facility at the Blue Grass Army Depot
- Official Letter to the Community Regarding Environmental Assessment
- For more information, please visit our NEPA Background Information page.
Record of Decision
February 2003: Record of Decision
Chemical Stockpile Disposal Project Destruction of the Chemical Agents and Munitions Stored at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky.
Notice of Intent
December 2000: Notice of Intent Published In Federal Register
Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Design, Construction, and Operation and Closure of a Facility for the Destruction of Chemical Agents and Munitions at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky.
Final Environmental Impact Statement
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal of Chemical Munitions at Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD), Kentucky.
Available for review at our information repositories.
Environmental Permitting
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Permit Application
August 2018: Draft Organic Air Emissions Permit
On Aug. 15, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a draft Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments permit for organic air emissions at the BGCAPP. This permit will be a companion to the RD&D permit. The public comment period closed Oct. 1, 2018. For more information, visit https://www.epa.gov/ky/public-notice-hazardous-and-solid-waste-amendments-permit-modification-blue-grass-chemical-agent.
March 2018: Final RD&D Permit
In March 2018, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection approved an updated RD&D permit for the destruction of chemical agents at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.
November 2015: RD&D Permit Application, Revision 6, and Class 2 Permit Modification Request for Design Changes
The Blue Grass Army Depot and the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted a revised RD&D permit application and a Class 2 permit modification request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Waste Management, on Nov. 12, 2015.
The requested revision is with respect to the currently issued RD&D permit for the destruction of chemical agents and will transition the permitting documents to a standard, Part B format and modification request methodology, while retaining the RD&D classification. The Class 2 permit modification request includes modifications of the facility which address the destruction of cyanide in the Energetics Neutralization Reactors and the removal of the washout process from BGCAPP.
June 2007: RD&D Permit Application, Revision 4 Volume I
The Blue Grass Army Depot and Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass updated an environmental permit application in June. Revision 3 of the RD&D permit application was submitted to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Waste Management, in September 2006. After a review of the permit application, the department determined a need for additional information and issued a Notice of Deficiency. As a result of the request for more information, Revision 4, Volume I of the revised permit application was included along with the responses. There were no changes to Volume II of the permit application. The basis of the design for the Blue Grass project continues to be neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation. Revision 4, Volume I incorporates the following:
- Responses to the Notice of Deficiency comments
- A revision to Part A of the Kentucky Hazardous Waste Permit Application
- Changes in the description of the proposed RD&D process; facility construction and operation; record keeping procedures; closure process; and criteria to be used to determine effects on human health and the environment
September 2006: RD&D Permit Application, Revision 3
The Blue Grass Army Depot and Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Joint Venture (the Permittees) submitted a revision of the RD&D Permit Application to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Waste Management on September 27, 2006 in accordance with the requirements of 401 KAR 38:060, Section 6, RD&D Permits. The basis of the design for the BGCAPP continues to be neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation. This revision incorporates the following design changes:
- Reducing the number of treatment units in the BGCAPP
- Upgrades in the design that have occurred as the design has matured
- Changes in how secondary wastes generated in the facility will be handled
September 2005: BGCAPP Hazardous Waste Management Facility Permit
November 2004: RD&D Permit Application, Revision 2
BGCAPP Air Quality Permit Application & Title V Permit
October 2016: Clean Air Act (CAA) Title V Permit Renewal
On October 12, 2016, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality issued a Title V permit renewal for the BGCAPP facility, which included the addition of the EDT facility at the BGCAPP.
November 2014: Title V Air Quality Permit Modification
In May 2014, the Blue Grass Army Depot, in collaboration with the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant’s systems contractor, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, submitted a modification for the Title V Air Quality Permit to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) Division of Air Quality for an Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) facility. In August 2014, KDEP completed review of the permit application and judged it to be complete, allowing the project to begin construction on the EDT facility. KDEP officially approved the modification in November 2014.
June 2012: Final BGCAPP Air Quality Title V Permit
April 2010: BGCAPP Title V Air Permit Renewal Application
September 2004: Clean Air Act, Air Permit Application
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste Permit
July 2024: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On July 25, 2024, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
April 2024: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On April 2, 2024, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
February 2024: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Requests
On Feb. 15, 2024, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted a request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection for a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment permit modification. The permit modification request is to allow processing of agent-contaminated secondary waste, specifically, drained VX warheads in canisters, at the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 2000 facility. The request is being made to provide contingent operational availability of the SDC 2000 unit once GB containerized rocket warhead processing is complete.
- Cover Letter
- Class 2 SDC 2000 VX Permit Addition
- Previous Class 3 Permit
- SDC 2000 Critical RCRA Parameters
- SDC 2000 Part A
- SDC 2000 FPI for VX campaign
January 2024: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Jan. 4, 2024, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in RCRA permit modifications for the facilities.
October 2023: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Oct. 12, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
July 2023: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On July 27, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
April 2023: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Request
On April 20, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection for a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Class 2 Hazardous Waste permit modification. The permit modification request is to increase VX monitoring at the off-gas treatment system stacks at the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 facility.
- Class 2 Permit Modification Request Cover Letter
- SDC 1200 VX Monitoring OTS Stack Class 2 Permit Modification Request
April 2023: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On April 4, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
January 2023: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Request
On Jan. 26, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection for a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment permit modification. The permit modification request is for an increase in the feed rates of undrained M56 warheads in canisters at the Static Detonation 2000 facility. The request is in support of the proposed Earth-Covered Magazine rocket operations.
- Class 2 SDC 2000 Feed Rate Permit Cover Letter
- SDC 2000 Class 2 Feed Rate Permit Modification Request
- SDC 2000 M56 GB Rocket warhead in canisters-Item 1- B
- SDC 2000 M56 GB Rocket warhead in canisters-Item 2- B
- SDC 2000 M56 GB Rocket warhead in canisters-Item 3- B
January 2023: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Jan. 16, 2023, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
November 2022: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Requests
On Nov. 22, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted two requests to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection for two Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment permit modifications. The permit modification requests are for additional GB nerve agent rocket processing at the Static Detonation Chamber 2000 facility Earth-Covered Magazine (ECM) and management of ECM GB containers in the main plant.
- Class 2 Permit Modification Requests Cover Letter
- SDC 2000 ECM Rocket Line Class 2 Permit Modification Request
- SDC 2000 ECM GB Containers Class 2 Permit Modification Request
- SDC 2000 ECM Part A
- Temporary Authorization Request ECM Cover Letter
- SDC 2000 ECM Temporary Authorization Request
August 2022: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Request
On Aug. 18, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. The request is to allow a change in agent monitoring levels for Rocket Warhead Containerization System skid release from the Munitions Demilitarization Building.
- 20220810_24915-00-GPE-GGPT-00304_RWCS_Mon
- 20220810_24915-00-GPE-GGPT-00449_TAR_RWCS_Mon
- 20220815_MP_Class2_ActionLevel_Cover_20694
- 20220815_MP_Class2_ActionLevel_TAR_Cover_20693
- 100118441-CDPO484 GB Rocket DRE with RWC Rev 0 final
- BGCAPP 90 Day Permit Mod August 2022
August 2022: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Aug. 3, 2022, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
May 2022: Three Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment Permit Modification Requests
On May 12, 2022, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted three Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage & Treatment permit modifications for alternative management of problematic GB rounds in the Main Plant Facility, the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 and the SDC 2000 to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) for review and approval.
May 2022: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage & Treatment Permit Modification Request, Treatment of GB Rockets and Waste Transfer Station Container Storage Limit Increase
Effective May 11, 2022, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Division of Waste Management approved the Class 2 Modification for the treatment of GB rockets and Waste Transfer Station container storage limit increase at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.
April 2022: Class 3 Hazardous Waste Storage & Treatment Permit Modification Requests for SDC 1200 and SDC 2000
Effective April 15, 2022, two permit modification requests were approved by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. The two permits are:
- Class 3 Hazardous Waste Storage & Treatment Permit Modification Request, Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200
- Class 3 Hazardous Waste Storage & Treatment Permit Modification Request, Addition of SDC 2000
February 2022: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Feb. 2, 2022, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
November 2021: Temporary Authorization Request for Increased Container Storage Capacity at the Waste Transfer Station
On Nov. 11, 2021, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a Temporary Authorization Request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP). This submittal is in accordance with the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to allow use of the increased container storage capacity at the Waste Transfer Station while the RCRA Class 2 permit modification request continues to be reviewed and processed by KDEP.
November 2021: Class 2 Hazardous Waste Permit Modification Request for GB Rocket Processing and Waste Transfer Station
On Nov. 11, 2021, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted a Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment permit modification request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) to add to the Part B permit the processing of M55 rockets containing GB in the Munitions Demilitarization Building and increases the container storage limit at the Waste Transfer Station.
November 2021: Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Nov. 11, 2021, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) announced that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification for the facilities.
September 2021: Off-site Shipment and Disposal of Agent Hydrolysate and Storage of Uncontaminated Rocket Motors Permit Modifications
Effective Sept. 23, 2021, two permit modification requests were approved by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. The two permits are:
- Off-site shipment and disposal of agent hydrolysate
- Storage of uncontaminated rocket motors
August 2021: Explosive Destruction Technology and Main Plant Summary of Approved Class 1 Permit Modifications
On Aug. 11, Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) provided public notice that pursuant to Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) guidelines, the following BGCAPP design changes have been made. These design changes were included in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modifications for the facilities.
July 2021: Temporary Authorization Request for Modifications to the Static Detonation Chamber 1200
On July 29, 2021, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a Temporary Authorization Request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP). This submittal is in accordance with the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to allow continuation of modifications of the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 unit while the RCRA Class 3 permit modification request continues to be reviewed and processed by KDEP.
July 2021: Temporary Authorization Request for Static Detonation Chamber 2000
On July 14, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a Temporary Authorization Request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) to allow continuation of site preparation, equipment installation, building placement and ancillary activities of the Static Detonation Chamber 2000 while the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act continues to be reviewed and processed by KDEP.
December 2020: BGCAPP Submits Two Permit Modification Requests
On Dec. 15, 2020, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted a Class 2 Hazardous Waste Storage and Treatment permit modification request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection for use of the Vertical Rocket Cutting Machines and the addition of Rocket Non-Destructive Examination equipment in the Munitions Demilitarization Building. The second modification adds to the Part B permit the processing of M55 rockets containing VX nerve agent.
November 2020: Rocket Processing Equipment Temporary Authorization Request
On Nov. 6, 2020, the Blue Grass Army Depot and the systems contractor, Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass (BPBG), submitted a Temporary Authorization Request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP). This submittal is in accordance with the provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to allow installation, integration with existing equipment and systems, systemization, and any required testing of Vertical Rocket Cutting Machines (VRCMs) in the Munitions Demilitarization Building and allow installation, integration with existing equipment and systems, systemization, and any required testing of Rocket Non-Destructive Examination (RNDE) equipment, while the Class 2 RCRA Permit Modification for the VRCMs and RNDE is reviewed and approved by KDEP.
October 2020: Off-site Shipment of Hydrolysate Request
On Oct. 15, 2020, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted a Class 3 permit modification request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection that proposed the off-site shipment for treatment and disposal of GB agent hydrolysate and VX agent hydrolysate resulting from agent neutralization in the Munitions Demilitarization Building.
October 2020: VX Projectile Operations
On Oct. 15, 2020, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Division of Waste Management approved the Class 3 Modification to the hazardous waste permit for the destruction of VX chemical agents at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.
September 2020: Rocket Motor Storage Request
On Sept. 11, 2020, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant submitted a Class 3 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification request to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection in support of additional storage of uncontaminated rocket motors.
June 2020: BGCAPP Submits Two Permit Modification Requests
On June 25, 2020, the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) submitted two Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit modification requests to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.
One request is in support of a Static Detonation Chamber 2000 unit that will augment the main plant to destroy overpacked munitions and drained rocket warheads. The other request seeks to replace the existing Explosive Destruction Technology Off-gas Treatment System with a new unit capable of processing chemical nerve agent.
Toxic Substances Control Act
November 2022: Modified Toxic Substances Control Act Approval
On Nov. 30, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a modified approval to process, store and dispose of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) bulk product waste at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
July 2017: Toxic Substances Control Act Approval
On July 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed issuing approval for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant to story and process polychlorinated biphenyls contained in M55 rocket shipping and firing tubes under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Information Repositories
Collections of information, known as Information Repositories, regarding the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant project are available at various community locations. Inquiries should be directed to Siobhan Adkins, Outreach Communications Lead, siobhan.adkins@iem.com.
- Berea Branch, Madison County Public Library
319 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40403 - Berea College, Hutchins Library, Special collections section
Berea, KY 40404 - Eastern Kentucky University, Crabbe Library, Government documents section
521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475 - Estill County Public Library
246 Main Street, Irvine, Kentucky 40336 - Richmond Branch, Madison County Public Library
507 West Main Street, Richmond, KY 40475
For a complete list of documents available at the Information Repositories, please see the Index.