The recent inclement weather has put a temporary halt Operation Swift Solution at the Blue Grass Army Depot, and operations are to begin again on Monday, Feb. 9.
The project began in November and the goal is to destroy the contents of three, “ton” containers, one of which leaked in August 2007.
The operation is now in phase three, which involves processing the wastes generated during the management of current and previous operations associated with these containers.
When this is completed, the operational facilities will be shut down and the temporary structures and equipment will be shipped back to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
Army teams, including members from the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD), the Chemical Materials Agency and the U.S. Army Element, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, are involved in the destruction effort, with cooperation and oversight from local and state government agencies and daily oversight from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection.
“Safety was the number one consideration in the decision to halt operations,” said Johnnie Allen, BGCA civilian executive assistant. “The extended period of area-wide power outages, hazardous road conditions on the installation and unavailability of appropriate support personnel and facilities severely impacted the team’s ability to safely perform the mission, and the operation was therefore temporarily suspended.”
A limited crew is on site to perform maintenance and monitoring of the temporary facility and the filtration units to ensure the safety of the work force and community, according to Stephanie Parrett of the Blue Grass Outreach Office in Richmond.
Operations are expected to be completed in the late February, early March time frame, according to Katherine B. DeWeese, communications and congressional affairs, U.S. Army Element Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.
Operation Swift Solution is an Army initiative that started operations Nov. 12, 2008, to destroy the contents of three steel containers commonly referred to as “ton containers,” that held a corrosive mixture of the nerve agent GB and its breakdown product.
The work is being performed by Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) operators who are extensively trained and experienced in chemical operations, especially in neutralization and destruction of chemical warfare materiel, DeWeese said.
“Due to the unknowns regarding the nerve agent and its breakdown products in the containers, there were some initial challenges, but they were overcome by rigorous planning, analytical studies and pre-operational testing,” she said.
Operation Swift Solution has been a 24/7 operation since the beginning with the average workday being between 14 and 15 hours.
Visit www.pmacwa.army.mil/ky/swift_solution.htm for previous advisories and additional information.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6698.
Local News
Storm slows ‘Swift Solution’
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Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
Arrest made in connection with stolen jewelry, computer
Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
US 25 business owners scared of five-lane plan
Voices of Berea business owners upset about upcoming construction on US 25 will be taken to the state level, according to city administrator Randy Stone.
Several people operating businesses along a section of US 25 gave comments Tuesday to the Berea City Council, asking them reconsider plans to widen the road to five lanes.
The design is a five-lane highway with a center turn lane and a 10-foot shared use path on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side. -
Grand jury to hear copper theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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