
The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) completed destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) July 7, 2023.
During the destruction process, neutralization, broke down nerve agent into a wastewater product known as hydrolysate. This wastewater is being shipped off site for further processing.
During the plant’s closure stage, hydrolysate will continue to be generated through decontamination activities.
The facility receiving and treating the hydrolysate is Veolia North America near Port Arthur, Texas.

Safe History of Transportation
Hydrolysate is a Department of Transportation Class 8 corrosive material, a hazard similar in many ways to other corrosive materials shipped daily in the U.S. and throughout the world. Hydrolysate has been previously shipped from other chemical demilitarization facilities in the U.S. and from BGAD.
All VX nerve agent hydrolysate from the Newport Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Indiana was incinerated at Veolia beginning in 2007.
In 2009, 1,000 gallons of GB nerve agent hydrolysate was shipped from Kentucky to the Veolia facility as part of Operation Swift Solution.
The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado shipped more than 842,000 gallons of mustard agent hydrolysate to Veolia for processing in 2017, 2018 and 2020.


Safety First
Safety of the workforce, community and environment is a top priority for the project. The utmost care and attention to detail is followed when shipping hydrolysate from BGCAPP. All applicable state laws and Department of Transportation regulations are followed. A permit modification request required prior to the first shipment of hydrolysate was approved by the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Sept. 23, 2021.
Resources and Contact Information
For more information about hydrolysate shipment, contact the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (859) 626-8944 or bgoutreach@iem.com.