Engineering design activity for the Blue Grass Army Depot's chemical weapons destruction complex is nearly finished, while construction is progressing at the Kentucky installation, the Richmond Registerr reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 22).
The chemical disarmament plant is set to include 11 distinct buildings. Work on the steel infrastructure of two of those buildings began last month. Steel is needed for the site's containment building to make it explosion proof, as it would be used for dismantlement of volatile chemical munitions.
Other work, including installation of roads, security fences and lights, is already done.
The remaining 4 percent of design is expected to be largely completed in the middle of next year, allowing for an accelerated rate of construction.
Barring any more delays, eradication of the 523 tons of chemical agents at the depot is set to commence in 2018 (Bill Robinson, Richmond Register, Oct. 26).