Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Volume Volume 1 Issue 3 September 2005 DEMIL DISPATCH BGAD Project T ABLE OF CONTENTS Public Hearing Held on Chem Storage Mod and RD&D Permits DAQ Hosts Public Hearing on Air Permits for BGCAPP By: Brian Ballard Continued on page 3 John Jump, April Webb, and Tony Hatton review public comments during the Aug. 30 public hearing on the chemical storage modification and the RD&D permit. By: John Jump The Kentucky Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, Division of Waste Management (DWM) has tentatively decided to approve a permit modification for the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) to store hazardous waste, including chemical munitions and related materials (Chemical Storage), and a Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) permit to construct, test, and operate the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP). The BGCAPP is a facility to destroy chemical munitions containing the nerve agent GB. Both of these are Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permits. RCRA is a federal program that is administered by DWM. After public noticing the Chemical Storage and RD&D permits on Sunday, July 17, comments were accepted for the next 45 days through Wednesday, Aug. 31. A public hearing was held at the Carl D. Perkins Conference Continued on page 5 Divison for Air Quality's Brian Ballard and James Morse await their portion of the Aug. 30 public hearing in Richmond. The public hearing for the Blue Grass Chemical Agent- Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) was held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the Carl D. Perkins Conference Center on the Eastern Kentucky University campus. The Division for Air Quality (DAQ) was represented by James Morse and Brian Ballard. Morse, the permit support section supervisor, served as the moderator for the portion of the hearing pertaining to the issuance of the draft Clean Air Act, Title V permit for BGCAPP, permit number V-05-034. ♦Mike Welch Retires.......2 ♦April Webb Promoted...2 ♦KDEP Attends Tier II Meeting................................3 ♦KDEP Participates in Safety Day .............................4 ♦Bentley Steps in For Geology Duty ......................4 ♦KDEP Participates in Public Involvement...........5 ♦Haz Waste Sponsoring Care Package.....................5
Transcript
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
VolumeVolume 1Issue 3
September 2005DEMIL DISPATCH
BGAD Project
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Public Hearing Held on ChemStorage Mod and RD&D Permits
DAQ Hosts Public Hearingon Air Permits for BGCAPPBy: Brian Ballard
Continued on page 3
John Jump, April Webb, and Tony Hatton review public commentsduring the Aug. 30 public hearing on the chemical storagemodification and the RD&D permit.
By: John Jump
The Kentucky Environmentaland Public ProtectionCabinet, Division of WasteManagement (DWM) hastentatively decided toapprove a permitmodification for the BlueGrass Army Depot (BGAD)to store hazardous waste,including chemicalmunitions and relatedmaterials (ChemicalStorage), and a Research,Development andDemonstration (RD&D)
permit to construct, test, andoperate the Blue GrassChemical Agent-DestructionPilot Plant (BGCAPP). TheBGCAPP is a facility todestroy chemical munitionscontaining the nerve agentGB. Both of these areResource Conservation andRecovery Act (RCRA)permits. RCRA is a federalprogram that is administeredby DWM.
After public noticing theChemical Storage and RD&Dpermits on Sunday, July 17,comments were accepted forthe next 45 days throughWednesday, Aug. 31. Apublic hearing was held at theCarl D. Perkins ConferenceContinued on page 5
Divison for Air Quality's Brian Ballard and James Morse awaittheir portion of the Aug. 30 public hearing in Richmond.
The public hearing for theBlue Grass Chemical Agent-
Destruction Pilot Plant(BGCAPP) was held onTuesday, Aug. 30, at the CarlD. Perkins ConferenceCenter on the EasternKentucky University campus.
The Division for Air Quality(DAQ) was represented byJames Morse and BrianBallard. Morse, the permitsupport section supervisor,served as the moderator forthe portion of the hearingpertaining to the issuance ofthe draft Clean Air Act, TitleV permit for BGCAPP,permit number V-05-034.
Mike Welch retired as theHazardous Waste Branch(HWB) manager at the end ofJuly with a travel-themedretirement reception.
Prior to his employment withKentucky Department ofEnvironmental Protection(KDEP), Welch was anenvironmental engineer withCommonwealth Technology,Inc., in Lexington for sevenyears.
Welch began his time withKDEP in the Division ofWater as an environmentalengineer working as thePretreatment ProgramCoordinator in January 1985.He was promoted toEnvironmental Engineer
Consultant in 1987 andsupervisor of the newly-created Pretreatment Sectionwithin the KentuckyPollutant DischargeElimination System(KPDES) Branch in 1990.
He was promoted toenvironmental engineerbranch manager of the HWBwithin the Division of WasteManagement in April 1993and remained in that positionuntil his retirement.
After finishing his tour ofjury duty that began rightafter his retirement, Welchplans on using his free timeto travel and spend time withhis two daughters, two sons-in-law, and grandson.
Mike Welch Retiresas HWB ManagerBy: Shannon Powers
By: Shannon Powers
April Webb was promoted tothe post of Hazardous WasteBranch (HWB) manager andbegan her duties on Aug. 1.
Webb, who is currently doingdouble duty by functioningin her past capacity of PermitReview Section supervisorfor the branch, has a bachelorof science degree inchemical engineering fromthe University of Kentucky(UK) and received herprofessional engineer (PE)license in environmentalengineering in January 2003.
For six years, she worked inthe Division for Air Quality.While there, she worked inthe Metallurgy Section of the
Permit Review Branch whereshe wrote and approved airpermits for companies thatmade metal or metalproducts. She was thesupervisor of the section fortwo years.
Recently, Webb finished theCertified Public Manager(CPM) Program bycompleting all her capstoneprojects. She is lookingforward to graduation inNovember.
Webb, a Montgomery Countynative, lives in Mt. Sterlingwith her husband of 12 years,Bobby, and their 3-year-oldson, Robbie, on a cattlefarm.
Mike Welch (in plaid) receives certificates, awards, and plaquesfor his 20 years of environmental service to the state fromDivision of Waste Management Director R. Bruce Scott. Welch'stravel-themed retirement reception was held in Frankfort on July28.
April Webb, pictured with R. Bruce Scott, was promoted to theposition of Hazardous Waste Branch manager. Previously, shehad been the Permit Review Section supervisor for the branch.Webb began her new duties on Aug. 1.
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Inspector Bill Buchanan (in red) and Permit Reviewer Eric Ringo(in black) were among the 80 participants in the ResourceConservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Unraveled class heldAug. 9-11 at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority(KHEAA) building in Frankfort. The course was brought to thestate by McCoy Seminars to help clarify the meaning of a numberof difficult EPA regulations.
KDEP Attends Tier IIMeeting in RichmondBy: Nathan Bentley
On May 4, Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC)employees Tim Thomas, John Jump, and Bill Buchanan attended areception honoring U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell at the GlyndonHotel in Richmond, Ky. The reception was hosted by the Berea-based Chemical Weapons Working Group (CWWG) forMcConnell's ongoing efforts to ensure that the chemical weaponsstored at the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) are destroyed in away that protects human health and the environment.
The Kentucky Department ofEnvironmental Protection(KDEP) had severalrepresentatives at the Tier I/Tier II Meeting held at theBlue Grass Army Depot(BGAD) on Aug. 16-17.Dale Burton, Bill Holskey,Larry Hughes, Eric Ringo,Bill Buchanan, Tim Thomas,Joe Wellner, and NathanBentley were present alongwith various members of theDepartment of Defense(DOD) and the federalregulatory community.
The agenda for the meetingconsisted of updates from
DOD facilities as well aspresentations given by KDEPstaff and updates on chemicaldemilitarization. Holskeygave an update on the NavalOrdnance Station inLouisville in which thepartnering process wascredited for the project’ssuccess. Burton informedthe team on the status ofKentucky’s regulationupdate. Thomas, principalassistant in the Office of theSecretary, gave apresentation on open burningregulations and the newly-
Continued on page 4
Ballard, the air quality permitwriter, presented informationon the air quality permit. Hispresentation included detailsabout the background of theClean Air Act, purpose of theTitle V permit for BGCAPP,applicable regulations andcompliance requirements
Craig Williams, representingthe Kentucky EnvironmentalFoundation (KEF) and the
Chemical Weapons WorkingGroup (CWWG), was theonly individual who madeverbal comments during theair quality portion of thehearing.
Written comments weresubmitted by Blue GrassArmy Depot (BGAD),Bechtel Parsons Blue Grass(BPBG), and William R.Scrivner.
DAQ Hosts Public Hearingon Air Permits for BGCAPPContinued from page 1
Page 4
While Tim Barrett is inAfghanistan during hisKentucky National Guard tourof duty, Nathan Bentley hasstepped in to take over theBlue Grass Army Depot(BGAD) Project’s geologistduties.
Bentley, a Greenup Countynative, has been working onthe non-chemical side ofBGAD for the CorrectiveAction Section since joining
the Kentucky Department ofEnvironmental Protection’sHazardous Waste Branch in2003. He graduated from theUniversity of Kentucky inDecember 2002 with bachelordegrees in geography andgeology.
During Bentley’s spare time,he and his wife, Krissie, arerefinishing their recently-purchased 108-year-oldHarrodsburg home.
Bentley Steps in for Geology DutyBy: Shannon Powers
KDEP Participates inMadison County Safety DayBy: Bill Buchanan
The First Annual MadisonCounty Safety Day, held atthe Madison CountyFairgrounds in Richmondwas a huge success. Theevent was held on Saturday,May 21, and had manybooths, exhibits, fun andentertainment for the wholefamily. Hot dogs andhamburgers were provided toevent participants.
Sam Lofton and BillBuchanan from the FrankfortRegional Office manned thebooth for the KentuckyDepartment forEnvironmental Protection(KDEP). They handed outhundreds of brochures,hoping to educate the publicin such areas as mercuryhandling and disposal; waste
oil/antifreeze management;lead acid battery disposal;and the tire amnestyprogram. Informationrelated to nerve/blisteragents located across theroad at the Blue Grass ArmyDepot (BGAD) and copies ofthe two issues of the DemilDispatch newsletter wereprovided. The biggest drawto KDEP’s booth was T-shirts. Over 100Commonwealth CleanupWeek T-shirts weredistributed.
The turnout for this eventwas larger than anticipated,and KDEP looks forward toproviding further publiceducation at future SafetyDays in Madison and othercounties.
Nathan Bentley has been assigned geologist duties for the projectwhile Tim Barrett is on military duty.
adopted UniformEnvironmental Covenants Act,which addresses land usecontrols, long-termmanagement, and theaccountability of landowners.Thomas Kurkjy of BechtelParsons Blue Grass presentedon the Chemical AgentDestruction Pilot Plant andexplained the ongoingredesign considerationstudies.
Todd Williams and PhillipWilliams, two members ofBGAD’s environmental team,gave a tour of the facility andpointed out sites of interestalong the way, including thefuture site of the chemicaldemilitarization plant and adetonation chamber.
The next Tier I/Tier II meetinghas been tentatively scheduledfor January 2006.
KDEP Attends Tier IIContinued from page 3
The Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD) Project Team's GeologistTim Barrett (sitting behind the desk) reported for his KentuckyNational Guard military duty in Afghanistan in July. The gentlemanin blue is Barrett's interpreter, who helps him communicate withthe Afghan commander at his right.
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Center on the EasternKentucky University campuson Tuesday, Aug. 30.Beginning at 6 p.m., theKentucky Environmental andPublic Protection Cabinet,Division for Air Quality(DAQ) held a public hearingconcerning the Title V airpermit for the BGCAPP. TheDWM portion of the publichearing followed.
Individuals and groups wereafforded the opportunity tocomment on the DWMpermits. DWM welcomed 42members of the public andexplained the public commentprocess. A presentationconcerning some of thehighlights of reviewing theBGAD applications andwriting the Chemical Storageand RD&D permits was given.Next, the public wasencouraged to make writtenand/or verbal comments.Written comments were
received from a number ofindividuals and groups. CraigWilliams, representing theKentucky ChemicalDemilitarization CitizensAdvisory Board (CDCAB),provided both written andverbal comments.
Currently, the DWM is in theprocess of reviewingcomments and questionsreceived. Responses will beprepared and the permit willbe modified if necessary. TheDWM will likely issue theChemical Storage and RD&Dpermits by Sept. 30. Copiesof the final permits andresponses to comments willbe available to be reviewed atthe Richmond and Bereabranches of the MadisonCounty Public Library, theEastern Kentucky UniversityLibrary, the Blue GrassChemical Stockpile OutreachOffice, and the DWM inFrankfort.
Public Hearing Held on ChemContinued from page 1
The KDEP display and informational items are ready for publicconsumption during the public involvement session held on July 26at the Madison County Extension Office.
These are just a few items that the Hazardous Waste Branch havecollected to send to Tim Barrett in Afghanistan. Besides hisfavorite brand of chewing tobacco for himself, Tim also suggestedthe branch send items for the Afghan children such as toys, candy,and school supplies.
KDEP Participates in PublicInvolvement SessionBy: Shannon Powers
Members of the KentuckyDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection’s Blue Grass ArmyDepot (BGAD) Project Teamparticipated in the Blue GrassChemical Agent-DestructionPilot Plant (BGCAPP) PublicInvolvement Session held onJuly 26 at the Madison CountyExtension Office.
Hazardous Waste BranchManager Mike Welch, PermitReview Section SupervisorApril Webb, Inspector BillBuchanan, and ProjectCoordinator Shannon Powerswere on hand to explain therole of the department in the
Continued on back page
Haz Waste Branch SponsoringCare Package to AfghanistanBy: Shannon Powers
Continued on back page
The Hazardous Waste Branch,of which the BGAD ProjectTeam is a part, is collectingitems for a care package to besent this month to the team’sgeologist, Tim Barrett, who ison Kentucky National Guardduty in Afghanistan.
Barrett, who keeps in regularcontact with those in thebranch, has said that he enjoysvisiting the local towns andschools. On these visits, heand his fellow soldiers give
Kentucky Department forEnvironmental ProtectionBGAD Project14 Reilly Road, Building 6Frankfort, KY 40601PHONE: (502) 564-6716WEB: www.waste.ky.govEMAIL: [email protected]
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The Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
sexual orientation or gender identity, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran
status. The department provides on request, reasonable accomodations
necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to
participate in all services, programs, and activities. To request materials
in an alternate format, call (502) 564-6716.
process of designing andconstructing the BGCAPP,which will destroy thechemical weapons housed onBGAD. Informationalmaterials such as fact sheetsfor the recently public-noticed chemical storagemodification and theResearch, Development andDemonstration (RD&D)permits, copies of the actualpermits, and a display
depicting the process ofobtaining a permit were onhand for the public to peruse.
Other participants in thesession included BGAD,Blue Grass ChemicalActivity (BGCA), BechtelParsons Blue Grass (BPBG),Madison County EmergencyManagement, and KentuckyDivision of EmergencyManagement.
KDEP Participates in PublicContinued from page 5
items to the locals as a signof goodwill.
“The kids all want pens,pencils, paper, and, yes, hardcandy/cookies,” said Barrettin a recent email. “Ifsomeone wants to gather upstuff like that and mail ithere, we will get it to them.”
Some of the items alreadydonated include two garbagebags full of Beanie Babiesand stuffed animals;foodstuffs such as beef jerky,candy, and snack crackers;and school supplies such aspaper, pencils, and pens.
One of the items persistentlyrequested by the Afghan
children is an Americanclassic--Oreo cookies.
“Children run from whereverto meet our convoys withtheir thumbs in the airyelling ‘Oreo,’” Barrett said.
Some of the items requestedfor the soldiers’ use includeinexpensive DVDs,paperback books, snackfoods, and toiletries such asrazors and mouthwash.
Barrett even made a specialrequest for himself: “Ifsomeone wants to supportmy habit, I chew Copenhagenlong cut with the gold lid.There does not seem to beany around here.”
Continued from page 5
Haz Waste Branch Sponsoring Care Package to Afghanistan
