2021 brought a continuation of mustard and nerve agent munition destruction at the Blue Grass Army Depot. The multi-phased disposal program is on track to be completed by the end of 2023.
Members of two citizens advisory panels got a virtual update Wednesday. Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant Deputy Carl Slaughenhaupt says VX nerve agent disposal is underway. “We started the VX 155 campaign in January, got through our ramp-up plan. It is the third of five campaigns and so far, so good. Not a whole lot to talk about here. It’s been progressing very well.”
While destruction of mustard agent in the static detonation chamber has been reported as slow going at times, almost 70% of those weapons have been destroyed with completion anticipated in August. Disposal of VX projectiles is scheduled to be finished this June. Then attention will turn to nerve agent rockets.
While just under 20% of the overall chemical weapons has been destroyed, attention has also focused on the plant closure scheduled the end of 2023.
Carl Slaughenhaupt says some preliminary planning for closure is occurring now. “Some of the lessons learned from the previous sites is you don’t want to wait until the end to start focusing on the end. You kind of got to start early and get after it. Otherwise it can become pretty monumental towards the end,” explained Slaughenhaupt.
Citizens Advisory Board Co-Chair Craig Williams sought assurance that the local community will be fully involved as Army officials develop the closure plan. Michael Abaie with Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives stressed that would be the case. The panels also heard plans to, starting this fall, truck hazardous waste resulting from neutralizing of nerve agent munitions to a site in Texas.
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