March 2017

Project Background

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) will safely destroy 523 tons of chemical agent in rockets and artillery projectiles stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky.

The main plant technology selected by the Department of Defense to destroy the Blue Grass VX and GB (Sarin) nerve agent weapons stockpile is neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation.

The technology selected by the Department of Defense to destroy the Blue Grass mustard (H) agent weapons stockpile is Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT), specifically the Static Detonation Chamber, or SDC.

The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is responsible for managing all aspects of the safe and environmentally sound destruction of the chemical weapons stockpiles in both Kentucky and Colorado.

The Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Team, a joint venture of Bechtel National Inc. and Parsons Government Services Inc., along with teaming partners AECOM, Battelle, General Atomics and GP Strategies Corporation, is the systems contractor selected to design, build, systemize, pilot test, operate and close BGCAPP.

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Main Plant Destruction Technology

Neutralization followed by supercritical water oxidation will be used to destroy the nerve agent weapons stockpile.

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Explosive Destruction Technology

Workers place

mustard projectiles

in feed tray with aid

of material-handling

equipment

System allows for

minimal handling of

projectiles by

workers

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

Projectiles conveyed

to top of vessel

For added safety, it

is a fully automatic,

double air-lock

feeding conveyor

system

Projectiles fed into

electrically heated

detonation chamber

Chamber

temperature

maintained above

critical temperature

of energetics inside

the projectiles

High heat detonate/

deflagrate projectiles,

mustard agent and

energetics destroyed

by explosion/thermal

decomposition

Off-gases treated by air

pollution control

system

SDC will be used to destroy the mustard agent weapons stockpile.

Safety

Safety remains a core value of the project workforce

Re-certified Occupational Safety and Health Administration Voluntary Protection Program Star Status site

Lost-time injury rate is 100 percent lower and recordable injury rate is 75 percent lower than industry average

As of Feb. 28, 2017, the project has completed 7,930,948 hours and 1,035 days without a lost-time accident

Accidents per 200,000 job hours

(12-month rolling rate)

5

2.4

.80

0.72

0.00

Recordable Injuries Lost-Time Injuries

ConstructionIndustry

Bechtel Parsons

Current Project Staffing

Total project

employment ― 834

Richmond, Kentucky ― 833

― Local hires ― 27 percent

Other locations ― 1

― San Francisco, California

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A member of the Lock Out, Tag Out team confirms tags on an Isopropyl line inside the Supercritical Water Oxidation Process Building.

Economic Impact

Acquisitions to date

― $171 million spent with

Kentucky companies

― $102.7 million spent in

Madison and surrounding

counties

Payroll to date (includes nonmanual and craft)

― $862 million of local payroll

paid

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Members of the Special Projects Team replace parts for the Agent Neutralization System in the Munitions Demilitarization Building.

BGCAPP Progress

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Personnel Maintenance Building

Medical Facility

Hydrolysate Storage Area

Control and Support Building

Munitions Demilitarization Building (MDB) Filter Banks

MDB

Container Handling Building

Explosive Detonation Technology (EDT) Facility Site*

Utility Building

Supercritical Water Oxidation Building

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5

6

7

89

Maintenance Building

Personnel Support Building

Laboratory Building

*EDT constructed, but in layup status pending later activation

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Main Plant Progress

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Left: A member of the Demilitarization Team makes adjustments to connectors before testing begins on the robot in the Explosives Containment Vestibule. Right: A member of the Special Projects Team torques a flange following testing in the Supercritical Water Oxidation Process Building. Systemization at the main plant now stands at 71 percent complete.

Community Involvement

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Left: Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant employees pose following the annual Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Bluegrass Bowl for Kids Sake event. Right: Kevin Wells, Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program section chief, Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV, listens as Jeff Brubaker, site project manager, explains the purpose of the agent sampling equipment in the Munitions Demilitarization Building’s Glove Box during a recent tour.

Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant

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Contact Information

Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office1000 Commercial Dr., Suite 2

859-626-8944

Sarah E. ParkePublic Outreach Manager

Mark YorkBechtel Parsons Blue Grass Communications Manager

U.S. Army Blue Grass Chemical

Activity431 Battlefield Memorial

Highway859-779-6897

Angela HurstPublic Affairs Officer

Jana FeltsPublic Affairs Officer

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