Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Update to NRC 9 April 2013

Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Update

9 April 2013

Presented to:

National Research Council Standing Committee on Chemical Demilitarization

Presented by:

Joe NovadDeputy Program Executive Officer

A Partnership for Safe Chemical Weapons Destruction

2003Neutralization followed

by supercritical water oxidation.

2002Neutralization followed by biotreatment.

Research and demonstrate alternatives to incineration for assembled chemical weapons that meet the applicable safety and environmental requirements.

PEO ACWA Program Background

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1996

Responsibility to manage the destruction of the Pueblo, Colorado and Blue Grass, Kentucky chemical weapons stockpiles using chosen alternative technologies.

2003


ACWA’s Chemical Demilitarization Program Role

3


PEO ACWA Project Stages

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Facility is specifically designed to safely and efficiently destroy chemical weapons.

DESIGN

Completed in three phases, construction will be led by a team that has successfully designed, built and/or operated all of the existing chemical destruction facilities in the United States.

CONSTRUCTION

All machinery, equipment and processes are operated and tested with water or simulants to ensure they function together as an integrated system.

SYSTEMIZATION

Once systemization is satisfactorily completed, pilot testing begins with the gradual introduction of actual agent-filled munitions into the system.

PILOT TESTING

Once pilot testing has been successfully demonstrated and is proven to be in compliance with all safety requirements and environmental permits, the remaining chemical weapons are destroyed.

OPERATIONS

Operations are complete, and the facility is closed. Equipment is dismantled, decontaminated and removed in accordance with agreements between the state and the U.S. Army.

CLOSURE


Technical Expert Panel

Independent panel of past chem-demil practitioners/experts Purpose is to provide strategic guidance and

recommendations on chemical weapons destruction, including:– transition of plant phases with focus on operating procedures;

commissioning, start-up and testing; and hiring and training– potential barriers that could impact schedules – improvement to approaches, including opportunities for

acceleration– knowledge transfer

Reports directly to the ACWA Program Executive Officer with access to ACWA technical experts (government and Bechtel)

Current task: assess realism of PCAPP schedule– Task Complete

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The Recordable Incident Rate as of February 2013 was 1.88

– Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP): 2.87

– Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP): 0.81

ACWA facilities continue their focus on safety and each has achieved excellent records for hours worked without a lost-time incident

Both PCAPP and BGCAPP have been awarded Voluntary Protection Program Star Status

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, October 2012

0.0

LOW HIGH

7.3

Air

1.88

ACWA Construction

0.4

ComputerDesign

6.0

Performing Arts

3.1

NonresidentialConstruction

3.9

RetailClothing

2.4

ChemicalManufacturing

3.0

RealEstate

4.7

Education & Health

1.4

FinancialActivities

2.0

ReligiousOrganizations

Safety is Our Top Priority


Current Program Schedule

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Pueblo

Blue Grass

Operations

Closure

Construction

Operations

Closure

Construction

Systemization

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 20232007

1 2 3 4Fiscal Year

Quarter

2024 2025 2026 20271 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2

Systemization


PCAPP At-A-Glance

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Destruction Technology: Neutralization/Biotreatment

Construction complete: 100%

Systemization complete: 37%

Operations begin: 2015

Local project employment: 674

Local payroll paid to date: $626.3 million

Spent with Colorado companies: $221.6 million

Anticipated end of destruction operations: 2019


Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

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Enhanced Reconfiguration Building

Munitions Service Magazine

Automated Guided Vehicle CorridorAgent Filtration Area

Munitions Service Magazine Corridor

Biotreatment Area Agent Processing Building


PCAPP Today

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BGCAPP At A Glance

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Destruction Technology: Neutralization/Supercritical Water Oxidation

Construction complete: 66%

Systemization complete: 6%

Operations begin: 2020

Local project employment: 995

Local payroll paid to date: $390 million

Spent with Kentucky companies: $103.9 million

Anticipated end of destruction operations: 2023


Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

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Control and Support Building

Munitions Demilitarization Building

Utility Building Laboratory Building

Supercritical Water OxidationProcessing Building


BGCAPP Today

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Explosive Destruction Technology

Explosive Destruction Technology (EDT) Contained vessels that use

explosive charges or heat to destroy chemical weapons

Explosive destruction system uses neutralization to destroy the agent fill

EDT will be used to augment destruction technologies at each site to process problematic munitions Pueblo: DECISION PENDING Blue Grass: Environmental

assessment will be released for public comment this spring

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Static Detonation Chamber

Transportable Detonation Chamber

DAVINCH (Detonation of Ammunition in a Vacuum-Integrated Chamber)

Commercial Explosive Destruction Technologies (EDT)

Commercial Explosive Destruction Technologies (EDT)

Static Detonation Chamber (SDC)

Transportable Detonation Chamber (TDC)

Detonation of Ammunition in a Vacuum-I ntegrated Chamber

(DAVI NCH)

Army Explosive Destruction System (EDS)Army Explosive Destruction System (EDS)

1

Army Explosive Destruction System


Public Outreach and Involvement

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Public Involvement

Colorado and Kentucky communities chose Citizens’ Advisory Commissions as their preferred method of public involvement

Site outreach teams ensure that stakeholders have access to project information through:

– Outreach Offices

– Community Events

– Speakers’ Bureaus

Connect with ACWA PEO ACWA website offers program

information and ability for stakeholders to provide feedback

Social media sites provide opportunities for stakeholder engagement: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr

Sites distribute monthly e-newsletters to share timely updates

Of respondents reported that all questions and concerns regarding the program were addressed94%

Of respondents reported that the activities of the outreach team increased awareness and knowledge of chemical weapons destruction efforts

97%

Of respondents believed the ACWA program is committed to openness and sharing information with the public93%

FY 2012 data collected via feedback forms and comment cards.

STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK


OPCW Visit to Pueblo and Blue Grass

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council visits scheduled for mid-May– Pueblo: 19-21 May– Blue Grass: 21-23 May

Specific countries will be invited as well as the OPCW Director-General, his Chief of Cabinet, Ambassador-level representatives from the other four regional groups, a representative from Russia and a representative from the Technical Secretariat– Meetings with Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’

Advisory Commissions– Overview briefings– Site tours

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PEO ACWA Path Forward

Pueblo project is focused on systemization

Construction and systemization continue at an aggressive pace in Blue Grass

EDT remains a priority at both sites

Fiscal uncertainty/sequestration may impact both projects


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Questions/Comments

NRC Committee tour of Blue Grass construction site, Feb 2013

Government & Nonprofit

Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives Update to NRC 9 April 2013