Plant’s deficient welds unlikely to halt start of operations

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) – Officials say the discovery of deficient welds at a Madison County plant is unlikely to delay the start of operations.

Jeff Brubaker, the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives site project manager, tells the Lexington Herald-Leader repairs will be made. He said last week the plant has committed resources to ensure the facility will start operations by 2020.

Brubaker says X-rays taken in California showed the weld deficiencies while others were inconclusive or lacked clarity.

Project manager for Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass Ron Hink says deficiencies should have been detected in fabrication.

The plant was built last year to destroy deadly sarin and nerve agents that have been stockpiled for decades. The deficient welds were discovered in equipment fabricated by a subcontractor in California.