A study from the U.S. Army showing potential reuses for facilities at the Blue Grass Army Depot’s chemical weapons disposal plant has been released.
The report says there are 54 facilities at the plant considered “highly feasible for reuse,” and another 37 that are considered “feasible to lesser degrees.”
It identifies five potential uses for the facilities that are most likely to be acted upon.
That includes domestic production of defense industry chemicals, metal shipping containers, or components for artillery rounds. The report says these options have “high readiness impact and high feasibility.”
Other options not involving production include the creation of a security guard training academy for the army’s industrial bases, or a centralized security center that would monitor other army installations in the region. Those two options were also described as having high feasibility, but a low readiness impact.
Three other uses that will be considered – though are not as likely to be finalized – include the production of ammunition containers, a support unit for the Army’s Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point in North Carolina and research and development lab for manufacturing.
The study was conducted over a six week period and included interviews and surveys with those involved at the Depot, alongside other stakeholders from the Department of Defense, Department of the Army and community members..
The chemical weapons disposal plant at the Blue Grass Army Depot is currently scheduled to begin closure after all secondary waste is neutralized. Buildings are scheduled for decommission after the decontamination phase ends in 2025.
