Date: April 14, 2014 Presented by: Allison Respess,Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass, Assistant Project Manager

1. Public Meeting for Class 3 Permit
Modification Request to Kentucky
Department for Environmental
Protection (KDEP) to add
Explosive Destruction Technology
(EDT) to BGAD RCRA Hazardous
Waste Permit
Date:
April 14, 2014
Presented by:
Allison Respess,
Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass,
Assistant Project Manager

2. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
ACWA’s Chemical Demilitarization
Mission
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The safe and environmentally sound destruction of the chemical weapons stockpiles
stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot, Ky., and the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colo.

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Blue Grass Mission
 The Blue Grass mission is to safely
and efficiently destroy the chemical
weapons stored at the Blue Grass Army
Depot in Richmond, Ky.
 The U.S. Department of Defense’s
Program Executive Office, Assembled
Chemical Weapons Alternatives
(ACWA) manages all aspects of the
chemical weapons destruction program
for both Kentucky and Colorado
 Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass is under
contract to ACWA for the design,
construction, systemization, operations
and closure work at Blue Grass
Igloos at the depot store both conventional and
chemical weapons, and other non-stockpile items.
Chemical weapons such as these M55 rockets are
stored at and monitored by the Blue Grass Chemical
Activity.

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Role as the systems contractor
 Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass is the systems contractor
responsible for design, construction, systemization, operations
and closure which includes:
– Main neutralization/supercritical water oxidation pilot plant
– Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) system

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BGCAPP Operational Philosophy
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•Protect the workforce, public and environment
•Minimize or eliminate human interface with weapons
•Minimize or eliminate additional waste streams
BGCAPP Operational Philosophy

6. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
M110 155mm H-filled Projectile
(In 1943) (Today)
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Blue Grass Mustard (H) Projectiles
 Mustard filled projectiles are the oldest
component of the Blue Grass Army Depot
(BGAD) stockpile
 Manufactured between 1941 and 1943 at
Edgewood Arsenal (EA), Md., today part
of Aberdeen Proving Ground
 Mustard filled projectiles are the only
projectiles at BGAD that have an
explosive charge referred to as a burster
 Mustard M110 155mm Projectiles
– Agent Type: Levinstein Mustard
– Burster Explosive: Tetrytol
– Percentage of Munition Inventory: 15.2 percent
– Percentage of Agent Inventory: 17.3 percent

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Background: Problematic Mustard
Projectiles
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 Problems processing mustard-agent filled 155mm projectiles at the
Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility (TOCDF) led the ACWA
program to request the National Research Council to conduct an
assessment to analyze Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) use
at Blue Grass and Pueblo
– Tooele projectiles had a high rate of agent solidification, which complicates
removal of the mustard agent from the projectile; and stuck bursters,
which require human interaction to remove the explosives from the
problematic munitions
– Blue Grass has a high number of same-lot problematic munitions as Tooele
(20 of the 31 Edgewood Arsenal lot numbers are common to both sites)
 ACWA worked closely with the U.S. Army Chemical Materials
Activity to incorporate lessons learned from processing problematic
mustard projectiles at TOCDF

8. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Background: Problematic Mustard
Projectiles (cont’d)
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Corroded off
bursterwell
pulled free of
round after
cavity cut.
Burster
remained
stuck in
round.
Bursterwell and Burster separated from 155mm mustard rounds at the Tooele Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.

9. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
X-ray Assessment
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 ACWA and the Blue Grass Chemical Activity
conducted an X-ray assessment to learn about
extent of agent solidification problem at Blue Grass
 The X-ray assessment was performed from May to
June 2011, and was conducted to a 95 percent
confidence level
 All 96 H-filled munitions in sample contained heel
— Average heel – 54.8 percent
− Minimum heel – 15 percent
− Some weapons were completely solidified
 Approximately 6,100 munitions estimated to have
greater than 59 percent heel
─ This data suggests that less than 5 percent
could be processed in the main plant
Images taken May 25, 2011, courtesy BGCA
Clearly
visible
Heel
Additional
Heel along
the side
No liquid
agent line
visible

10. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Round 1 – BGX-02-002 Round 2 – BGX-02-013 Round 3 – BGX-02-003
Massive (100%) visible Heel Large (72%) visible Heel Heel (17%) is limited in projo tail
“No liquid” agent line visible Little agent is available Large amount of liquid agent
Additional Heel on side Additional Heel on side No visible heel on the side
Likely highly pressured Likely highly pressurized Likely low pressurization
X-ray Study – Agent Heel Examples
Liquid Line
Liquid Line
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11. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Round 1 – BGX-02-002 Round 2 – BGX-02-013 Round 3 – BGX-02-003
Massive (100%) visible heel Large (72%) visible heel Heel (17%) is limited in projo tail
“No liquid” agent line visible Little agent is available Large amount of liquid agent
Additional heel on side Additional heel on side No visible heel on the side
Likely highly pressured Likely highly pressurized Likely low pressurization
X-ray Study – Agent Heel Examples
Liquid Line
Liquid Line
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Environmental Assessment (EA)
 Completed EA to meet the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act, and Title 32 Code of
Federal Regulations Part 651
 EA published in June of 2013 with draft “Finding of
No Significant Impact” (FONSI)
 Public meeting held in July 2013 to discuss EA process
and draft FONSI
 Special Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’
Advisory Commission and Chemical Destruction
Community Advisory Board meeting in October 2013 to
provide responses to commission and board members
on their collective comments provided during the
public comment period
 EA complete with “Finding of No Significant Impact”
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13. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Decision to use Explosive Destruction
Technology (EDT) at Blue Grass
 ACWA determined it was appropriate to direct Bechtel
Parsons to move forward with process to select an EDT to
destroy mustard projectiles at Blue Grass
 More than 15,000 155mm mustard projectiles, with fewer
than 200 in over-pack containers, along with two
Department of Transportation, known as DOT, bottles
containing mustard agent will be processed through the EDT
 ACWA decision considerations included: Environmental
Assessment and resulting Finding of No Significant Impact
and stakeholder involvement
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14. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Equipment Selection:
Static Detonation Chamber
 Equipment selected based upon competitive procurement
process performed by Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass
 Equipment selected: Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)
system supplied by UXB International, Inc.
 The SDC system includes a spherical, fully-contained and
high strength heat resistant stainless steel vessel
 The SDC uses electrically-generated heat causing munitions
to detonate or deflagrate, thus destroying the agent and
energetics
 The pollution abatement system includes thermal treatment
and scrubbers to remove any particulates, organics,
sulfur-dioxide, chlorine and heavy metals
 The system contains a robust carbon filtration system to
ensure air released back to the environment is clean
 The SDC will be enclosed within an engineered building
constructed atop a steel-laced concrete foundation
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SDC 1200 C Similar to the BGCAPP Unit
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Workers place
mustard projectiles
in Feed Trays with
the aid of Material
Handling Equipment
(MHE)
System allows for
single handling of
projectiles by
workers
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Projectiles conveyed
to top of vessel
For added safety, it
is a fully automatic,
double air-lock
feeding conveyor
system
Projectiles fed into
electrically heated
Detonation Chamber
Chamber
temperature
maintained above
critical temperature
of energetics inside
the projectiles
High heat detonate
projectiles, mustard
agent and energetics
destroyed by
explosion / thermal
decomposition
Off-gases treated by
air pollution control
system
EDT System – How It Works – Overview

17. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)
(cont’d)
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 Scrap metal is retained in the
chamber until it has been
completely treated to destroy all
agent, including heels if present
 The remaining byproduct, clean
scrap metal will be removed for
recycling
Before
AfterAfter
Anniston SDC munitions service magazine (above).
Anniston SDC cool-down inspection conveyor system (above).

18. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
EDT Pollution Control System
Overview
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EDT air pollution control system basics
 Is treating off-gasses from EDT system
Flamed
Thermal
Oxidizer
1 Particulate
Collection2 Scrubbers
3 Carbon
Filters4
Air Pollution Control System Process Overview
Off-gasses

19. A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction
Explosive Destruction Technology
site location
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Explosive Destruction Technology
Utility Building
Supercritical Water Oxidation Process Building
Control and Support Building
Munitions Demilitarization Building

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Public Participation, Resource
Conservation Recovery Act, Class 3
Modification Process
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How to Comment
Community members and interested stakeholders may submit
comments on the permit modification request via:
 In Person:
Place your completed comment form in the box on the information table
 Email:
heather.alexander@ky.gov
 Mail:
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
Division of Waste Management
200 Fair Oaks Lane, 2nd Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601-1190
 For more information contact:
Heather Alexander, Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection,
at (502) 564-6716
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Questions?
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