Blue Grass chemical weapons plant outlines closure and cleanup plans
RICHMOND, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Officials with the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant are sharing their plans to close and clean up the site, which served as the final U.S. facility to destroy old chemical weapons stockpiles.
The Blue Grass plant — located in Madison County — is the last of nine facilities nationwide that began destroying aging chemical weapons dating back to the 1990s. Construction of the pilot plant began in 2006, and the destruction process officially started in 2019.
Mark York, communications manager for the plant, spoke about the highly skilled workforce that made the mission possible.
“Any member of our workforce would be a tremendous asset to any organization,” York said. “Our workforce members are highly skilled, they’re highly trained, and they know how to work in high-hazardous conditions.”
According to the Army depot, the number of employees at the facility began declining in May and is expected to drop to fewer than 200 by the end of 2026 as closure and cleanup efforts continue.
