Environment - Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives

Workers pass a piece of plywood up the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 stairs in preparation for opening the roof to allow a new piece of equipment to be lowered into the building. The building passed decontamination verification testing in January, which means workers do not have to wear chemical protective gear as they prepare for the system’s next activity.

Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test

The facility responsible for destroying all the mustard-agent projectiles at the Blue Grass plant passed a final air-monitoring test to allow workers to safely open the building to install equipment for the next activity.

Former Mustard Destruction Facility Passes Crucial Test Read More »

Workers drill holes for structural steel placement on the Static Detonation Chamber 1200 Off-gas Treatment System Building foundation at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. A public comment period is open through March 16 for a permit modification request for this system.

Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit

The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, or KDEP, has tentatively approved and released for public notice two modifications to the existing hazardous waste permit for the Blue Grass plant.

Comment Period Open for Public Input on Draft Environmental Permit Read More »

A worker guides a crane after its placement of the thermal oxidizer for the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) 1200 unit at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The SDC 1200 requires a completely new off-gas treatment system in order to process drained, containerized VX nerve-agent warheads.

New Pollution Abatement System Under Construction

Workers are assembling a new off-gas treatment system to allow the existing Explosive Destruction Technology to safely process drained and containerized VX nerve agent rocket warheads.

New Pollution Abatement System Under Construction Read More »

A forklift operator is guided by spotters as he loads a crate of non-contaminated rocket motors onto a truck at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant July 20. The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection has opened a public comment period for plant modification requests that include additional storage space for the motors.

Public Comment Period Open for Hydrolysate Shipment, Rocket Motor Storage

The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, or KDEP, has tentatively approved and released for public notice two permit modification requests related to hydrolysate disposal and rocket motor storage changes at the Blue Grass plant.

Public Comment Period Open for Hydrolysate Shipment, Rocket Motor Storage Read More »

A truck and tank trailer sit in the tanker loading station at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. This is where plant hydrolysate will be loaded into tankers for delivery to a permitted disposal facility for final destruction.

Project Managers to Discuss Hydrolysate Shipment at June 9 Public Meeting

Blue Grass plant management will provide an update about hydrolysate shipment during an online public meeting June 9.

Project Managers to Discuss Hydrolysate Shipment at June 9 Public Meeting Read More »

A deer browses in an experimental plot of American chestnut trees on the Blue Grass Army Depot near the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. The depot is a partner in a conservation project to propagate blight-resistant versions of the American chestnut tree.

Blue Grass Partner Assists with Conservation Effort

Environmental experts at the Blue Grass Army Depot are working with several conservation organizations to propagate the American chestnut tree.

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Technicians program a Rocket Warhead Containerization System robot inside the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in February. This equipment is the subject of one of four Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection permit modification requests currently in a public comment period.

Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests

The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection, or KDEP, has tentatively approved and released for public notice four major permit modification requests related to rocket processing changes at the Blue Grass plant.

Public Involvement Opportunities for Permit Modification Requests Read More »

An electrician pulls cables for the Vertical Rocket Cutting Machines being installed at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. (A portion of this photograph has been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines.)

Comment Period Open for Plant Permit Modification Requests

Two permit modification requests submitted by the Blue Grass Army Depot in support of Blue Grass plant operations are open for public comment until Feb. 15.

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A technician helps an entrant with his protective suit as he gears up to perform a filter changeout activity at the Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology facility Dec. 9. A standard and planned-for operation, the filters were changed out after monitoring showed low-level mustard-agent breakthrough between the first and second filter banks in the main air filtration system.

First-Time Filter Change Activity

Technicians changed the filters in the IONEX 16K charcoal filter unit for the Blue Grass Explosive Destruction Technology facility for the first time mid-December.

First-Time Filter Change Activity Read More »