Crews at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Madison County are expected to begin destroying GB sarin munitions next month. Two separate community advisory groups got a briefing last week. Site Project Manager Candace Coyle said GB rockets present different challenges from VX munitions.
“That threat goes away very quickly compared to something like VX that stays and persists for a long time. So, there’s positives and negatives. That’s why I say I kind of treat every agent’s the same respect. Cause each of them presents a different sort of challenge for us,” said Coyle.
It will mark the final campaign to destroy stored chemical weapons at the Madison County installation. Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass is the contractor. Project Manager Ron Hink said his team is up to the challenge in neutralizing sarin.
“We say it’s going to be the hardest campaign because it’s got the most variables, but we’re also the most prepared. Because we’ve learned a lot along the way. Our crews are more trained. Better prepared to react to, I wouldn’t say surprises, but off-normal type of events,” said Hink.
This week a Chemical Accident/Incident Response and Assistance exercise is planned for Wednesday at the Blue Grass Army Depot. Area residents may hear the Westminster Chimes as part of testing for the exercise.
