By Ronica Shannon
Blue Grass Chemical Activity recently received its 13th inspection that is a part of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) based in The Netherlands arrived on site Monday, Feb. 2, for a four-day inspection to determine how safely and efficiently the chemical weapons at the Blue Grass Army Depot are being cared for.
The inspectors came from several different countries and conducted an inspection of all chemical weapons stored and monitored by the Blue Grass Chemical Activity, which is a separate entity located inside the depot to ensure the proper storage, maintenance and disposal qualifications are being met.
“It was a good inspection,” stated Deborah Boston, the Depot Treaty compliance officer. “I was greatly impressed by the professionalism and the courtesy of the international inspectors.”
Every past inspection showed that Blue Grass Army Depot was in full compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.
“I was especially proud of the men and women of Blue Grass Chemical Activity,” said Johnnie Allen, the Activities Civilian Executive Assistant. “To do a complete inventory of 45 igloos containing in excess of 100,000 individual weapons in such a short time called for extraordinary coordination between my toxic chemical workers and the inspectors. We were able to keep up with their very ambitious work schedule while always providing the utmost in personal safety for the inspectors, their escorts, the guards and our toxic chemical workers.”
The OPCW is only in charge of making sure all the chemical weapons being stored at the depot are accounted for and in their proper locations.
The Kentucky Department of Environmental Protection do regular inspections to verify that all weapon storage facilities are being monitored properly and consistently.
Under the terms of the CWC, the OPCW oversees many activities that include: Working to convince those countries in the world that have not yet done so to join the convention, checking and confirming the destruction of existing chemical weapons, monitoring certain activities in the chemical industry to reduce the risk of commercial chemicals being misused for weapons purposes, providing assistance and protection to member countries if they are attacked or threatened with attack by chemical weapons and promoting international cooperation for the peaceful uses of chemistry.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 6698.
