Employees at the Blue Grass Army Depot have been given the green light to begin work inside weapons storage igloos where Mother Nature has taken her toll.

The work plan to administer changes was approved Friday by the Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, Division of Waste Management. Submitting the plan is a requirement under Kentucky Revised Statute 224.50-130. The building permit for the depot does not allow employees to make changes without the state's permission.

The changes will include replacing rocket pallets, revamping the weapons storage igloos in order to insulate the interior area from outside weather conditions and moving the earth around the igloos in order to change the slope around the facility so that water runs away from the igloo. In addition, they will cover the igloos with waterproof tarps, said Dave Easter, Blue Grass Army Depot public affairs officer.

"Some of the pallets were being water logged," he said. "If the pallets become unstable, they could fall over. This could happen when an employee is in the igloo and cause physical harm or at worst, death either from trauma or from chemical agent if it spills. Spilling is not likely, but is possible. And, if there is a spill, that presents a threat to the local community."

The chemical weapons are stored on wooden pallets. Added moisture weakens the wood and could cause the pallet to collapse, he said.  

Although the work plan for the projects has been approved, there will still be a delay period in order to educate employees about the careful process of removing the weapons from their previous pallet and placing them on another.

"We will look at what the operation is and what the risks are," Easter said. "We'll go through the process with people watching to make sure that employees are doing the right thing. There could be a mishandling on the forklift or a chemical. People do make mistakes."

Ronica Brandenburg can be reached at rbrandenburg@ richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.