The last of VX nerve agent projectiles at the Blue Grass Army Depot have been destroyed. They were the last projectiles, or bomb shells, containing the VX nerve agent in the U.S.’s chemical weapons stockpile.
The VX nerve agent has been stored at the depot since the 1960s.
The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is responsible for destroying the chemical weapons. That process involves neutralizing the agent, testing and recycling the metal components of the projectiles.
Ron Hink is the project manager for the contractor at the plant.
“The projectiles themselves, when they're emptied, we put them through a basically a very, very large inductive furnace. It heats them up in a low oxygen environment,” Hink said. “So, there's no flame, no burning, nothing like that. It just basically reduces that material, destroys any agent.”
Hink said many safety measures are in place.
“We also have perimeter monitors around the site that constantly monitor for any release. We can monitor very, very low levels,” he said. “So we're always looking that for that potential, but with our operation, it's highly unlikely.”
Destruction of rockets containing VX nerve agent will begin sometime this summer. Mustard chemical weapons are also currently being dismantled.
Hink said 2023 is the anticipated destruction date of all chemical weapons at the depot.
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