BGCAPP Meeting with EDT Working Group Members 08 January 2014

1. SFAE-ACW-BG 08 January 2014
ACW-14-0002
MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) Meeting with Explosive
Destruction Technology Working Group (EDTWG) Members
1. Summary: On 10 December 2013, the BGCAPP team and the EDTWG, a sub-committee of the
Kentucky Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board (CDCAB), met to discuss the Explosive
Destruction Technology (EDT) status and next steps as well as receive an overview of the Static
Detonation Chamber (SDC) in operation at Anniston, Ala. In attendance were the following: Fred
Barnes, BGCAPP; Robert Blythe, CDCAB; Jeff Brubaker, BGCAPP; Kathy DeWeese, Program
Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (ACWA); Neil Frenzl, Bechtel Parsons
Blue Grass (BPBG); Tim Garrett, Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (ANCDF); Lt. Col.
Christopher Grice, Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA); Doug Hindman, Kentucky Chemical
Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC) and CDCAB; Wade Hollinger, BGCAPP; Terry
House, CDCAB; Misty Lawrence, BPBG; John McArthur, BPBG; Doug Omichinski, BPBG; Stephanie
Parrett, BGCAPP; George Rangel, BPBG; Allison Respess, BPBG; Carl Richards, CDCAB; Eddie
Whitworth, BGCA; and Craig Williams, CAC/CDCAB.
2. Actions: Brubaker discussed the permits (Clean Air Act Title V and Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) Part B) that would be requested, noting that the project is awaiting a number of
deliverables from the subcontractor associated with the SDC. He said that once those are reviewed and
determined to be acceptable, then design and schedule specifics would be discussed with the EDTWG.
Garrett, with Brubaker’s endorsement, extended an invitation for the working group members to visit the
Anniston facility to see the SDC in operation in January.
3. Presentations: Omichinski and Respess presented information on EDT status and next steps.
Garrett discussed SDC operations at ANCDF.
4. Discussion Topics:
a) Brubaker opened the meeting by reviewing the packet of information provided to the EDTWG,
which included briefing materials and information on the selected EDT for BGCAPP, the SDC. Brubaker
then initiated an overview briefing delivered jointly with Omichinski on the topic of EDT status and next
steps. Omichinski introduced Respess as the BPBG EDT project manager and noted that Respess,
among other represented BPBG team members, would be interfacing with the EDTWG in the future. In
response to the briefing, the following questions were asked.
b) The EDTWG asked who is responsible for construction and operation of the SDC system. It
was explained that BPBG will have full construction management responsibility. Omichinski further
noted that the construction work would be conducted under a subcontract, meaning BPBG would not be
directly hiring craft workers, but rather a subcontractor would be responsible for providing craft from the
local unions to complete construction of the SDC system. UXB, provider of the SDC, will be involved in
systemization and testing and will turn it over to the BPBG team for operations.
c) The EDTWG asked if the EDT facility would be over-pressurized. They were advised that it
would be pre-engineered with two cascading ventilation systems, one for the building and one for the
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
ASSEMBLED CHEMICAL WEAPONS ALTERNATIVES FIELD OFFICE
BLUE GRASS CHEMICAL AGENT-DESTRUCTION PILOT PLANT
830 EASTERN BYPASS SUITE 106
RICHMOND, KENTUCKY 40475-2512
REPLY TO
ATTENTION OF:

2. SFAE-ACW-BG
SUBJECT: Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Meeting with Explosive Destruction
Technology Working Group Members
process train. They also asked the length of the campaign and were advised it would be an approximate
36-38 week schedule and would be running 24/7. They were also advised that the overall design criteria
for the main plant applies to the EDT system as well, meeting the contractual requirements from ACWA
and International Building Code 2000.
d) The EDTWG asked questions regarding SDC system support structure design
considerations, related to wind ratings and seismic consideration and noted the possibility of design
impacts related to the new Kentucky code requirements. BPBG representative responded and noted
that seismic considerations, wind ratings and revised code requirements would be part of the review
process as UXB completed deliverables for review.
e) The EDTWG asked if there has been any recent engagement with the National Research
Council (NRC) associated with EDT. Brubaker shared that he had recently briefed the NRC on the Blue
Grass EDT selection and that the NRC has requested a briefing on ANCDF lessons learned and how
they will flow into the BGCAPP SDC design. Brubaker noted that the next interaction with the NRC was
scheduled in April 2014. Brubaker stated that there was no discussion of a new study or a letter report.
f) The group inquired if dual processing was being considered in the instance of the EDT
schedule delay and main plant start of operations. Brubaker replied that it would be unlikely that there
would be co-processing operations and that BGCAPP is working with Madison County and other
Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program partners on the early planning schedule, noting
that they will be better able to speak of the overall schedule once UXB has delivered their initial
documents. BPBG said that the project will submit the permit request in the middle of February,
contingent upon getting the design elements, and added that there will be a series of public meetings
and public review periods for the standard Part B permit.
g) The group asked if the projectiles would be monitored before the on-site container is opened,
to which an affirmative reply was given, with a description of the Outside Operations Support Facility,
called the O2SF, to be located south of the Supercritical Water Oxidation Processing Building. The
EDTWG also asked about the utilities infrastructure, to which BPBG responded that the existing utilities
are adequate to handle power needs. BPBG noted that both permanent power and temporary
construction power are available, back-up generators will be provided and also stated that several other
support elements have to be worked, including security and surety programs, in order for EDT to begin
operations in late 2016.
h) Garrett then provided a briefing on challenges and improvements related to the SDC located
and operational at the Alabama site. The EDTWG asked about a diagram that was included in the
information briefing provided to the working group, noting that the way the definition read on page 11
was that the emissions flow from the treatment process area through an off-gas treatment system, which
seemed standard, but noted it seemed there was an additional treatment system for that flow. The
group asked if the gas stream goes through one or two systems, to which Garrett responded that it goes
through one system. Discussion and clarification ensued around where the air systems flow.
i) The group asked how often routine maintenance was required, to which Garrett explained that
because of the extremely steep learning curve at ANCDF, the Blue Grass experience may differ. Garrett
said that his best guess would be three week-long outages a year. He added that if it can be arranged
for BGCAPP operators to train on the system at Anniston, the learning curve can be significantly
reduced.
j) Garrett discussed specific technical challenges experienced and corrected at Anniston
inclusive of challenges with pressure controls; spray dryer; thermal oxidizer; and agent migration. Other
discussion topics included monitoring systems; Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board
approval and potential for future approvals to apply at Blue Grass as well; and permitting.
2

3. SFAE-ACW-BG
SUBJECT:BlueGrassChemicalAgent-DestructionPilotPlantMeetingwithExplosiveDestruction
TechnologyWorkingGroupMembers
5.Conclusion:Themeetingwasconductedtoprovidea statusupdateandnextstepsregarding
implementationoftheSDCsystematBGCAPPandtoprovideanoverviewoftheANCDF'sSDC.The
meetingwasheldpriortothe11December2013CAC/CDCABmeeting.ltwasagreedthatBPBG
wouldprovideupdates,schedulesandpermittinginformationtothegroupasit becomesavailable.
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