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Update On Chemical Weapons Disposal Plan Scheduled This Wednesday

Another quarterly meeting of two community-based groups monitoring plans for destroying thousands of chemical munitions at the Blue Grass Army Depot will be held this week.  With actual disposal set to get underway in 2019, these meetings may carry a slightly different atmosphere.

For years, much of the attention given to chemical weapons stored in igloos on the Madison County depot grounds has focused on nerve agent.  But, the army installation is also home to some 17,000 mustard agent projectiles.  Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board Co-Chair Craig Williams says start-up of mustard munition disposal is likely only months away. “We’re looking at spring of next year, so probably six or eight months from now.  Somewhere in that time zone. I’d say six months is probably a reasonable estimation,” said Williams

The Army plans to destroy the mustard agent in the static detonation chamber.  Williams says there is confidence in the process.  “The advisory board and the governor’s commission, I don’t think either of them or neither of them would have endorsed its use if the comfort level wasn’t extreme, so we’re pleased with it.  The significant thing about it is it reduces significantly the risk to the workforce,” noted Williams.

Most all of the nerve agent is anticipated to be neutralized.  That’s projected to begin in 2020.  The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at EKU.

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