The Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, Division of Waste Management, tentatively approved a research development and demonstration permit Tuesday for the future weapons destruction pilot plant to be built at the Blue Grass Army Depot.

The permit allows for construction, testing and demonstration of a facility (the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant) to destroy the BGAD stockpile of chemical munitions. The permit is limited to treating the chemical agent GB (sarin), a colorless and odorless liquid that evaporates as fast as water.

The permit was made for GB only; however, based on how successful the process goes, the permit may be extended to include the destruction of mustard gas and VX agent also stored at the depot.

"This is a unusual permit that we asked for," said Dave Easter, public information officer for the depot. "If this permit is successful, then the permit can be expanded as a regular permit. We're demonstrating a new technology (Super Critical Water Oxidation). Once we do this, we'll have enough data to do a full permit."

All of the components to be used for the destruction of the munitions have been approved independently, but they've not been used together, Easter said.

"The state is allowing us to build it and test it," he said. "We will be using a simulant during the testing process."

The pilot plant is a project of high priority to those at the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, stating that "There is an increasing risk to human health and the environment from long-term storage of the aging chemical munitions," according to a statement released Tuesday.

The permit is for a chemical munitions treatment facility, defined as the area (and all included buildings and equipment), within the proposed double-fence near the chemical limited area within the depot. The purpose is to treat chemical munitions and materials using chemical neutralization technology.

The public comment period for the depot's draft permit for the pilot plant will end Aug. 31. The draft can be reviewed at the Madison County Public Library (Richmond and Berea branches), the Blue Grass Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at 301 Highland Park Drive in Richmond or the Division of Waste Management, 14 Reilly Road, Frankfort.

Comments can be submitted and additional information can be obtained by calling Shannon Powers, Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, at (502) 564-6716, Ext. 246.

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