Key Points That Make This Project Unique
The Munitions Assessment and Processing System facility was built to treat chemical weapons currently stockpiled at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. The EPA listed Aberdeen as a "priority site" for environmental clean up, as it is home to thousands of unexploded chemical munitions no longer used for the military. The new (MAPS) facility allows the military to detonate and process the munitions in controlled facilities (See attached U. S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Material program literature)Brochure 1 Brochure 2 Brochure 3.
The MAPS facility was unique in its purpose, state of the art technology, and in its contribution to the community. The facility was constructed to facilitate the environmental cleanup of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. The site is located on a plot of land that was once used as a firing range in preparation for WWII. The range also houses several bunkers that store live chemical munitions. The site posed unique challenges, which included clean up of unexploded ordinances ("UXO") prior to excavation. JCG contracted two of only four Army Corps of Engineers approved "UXO" companies to clear and monitor the site. The clearance process involved sweeping the site with specialized munitions detectors in twenty four inch lifts. Once a possible shell was detected, the project was shut down, the range was cleared, and the military's team of ordinance experts either moved the round or detonated it in place. Obviously the uncertainty of munitions created pressures on safety, schedules, and quality control. The excavating equipment was outfitted with armor-plated buckets and progressed at a cautious pace. The project started just prior to 9/11/01, which increased the security measures beyond the already stringent protocol for base work. Employees who entered the range were required to be U.S. citizens and were subject to a six week background check or were escorted daily. All contract documents were held in confidence and were distributed according to the base's document management program. This was quite a feat of coordination in that over 30 subcontractors & suppliers and 300 trade people worked on the site.
The nature of the design and construction of the facility was unique in that similar facilities simply did not exist. John C. Grimberg Co. and the Corps of Engineers worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority (designer) and the users to complete "conceptual" design components that ensured that the systems functioned as needed. This prototype facility incorporated "state of the art" technologies that were designed and refined throughout the project. These systems included:
| • | Stainless steel exhaust system capable of containing an accidental chemical release via an automatic negative air lock down, "explosion proof' exhaust fans, and a series of carbon filters that removed all chemical agents from the air. |
| • | Several "near real time" air mounting systems to provide redundancy and detect over 100 chemicals used in munitions processing. This system communicates directly with headquarters and is capable of initiating the negative lock down program, safeguarding employees in the building as well as the environment. |
| • | Munitions trolley network used to handle the munitions inside the facility; the system was fabricated to tolerances of less the 1/32 of an inch to ensure a "smooth ride". |
| • | Cut and Drill system that operated on the munitions to retrieve the chemical agents. |
| • | Munitions heaters and chillers that stabilized the chemicals prior to processing. |
| • | "Burster" detonation vessel that set off a change in a controlled environment. |
| • | Explosion containment chamber housed the munitions while being processed and is capable of withstanding a 13 ton TNT explosion. The facility included custom made stainless steel plenums and glove boxes. |
| • | A scrubber system linked together by a network of stainless steel piping and over 1000 process control and monitoring points. |
| • | Intermediate Bulk Containment system for holding the processed chemical agent prior to transport which included mixers and agitators to stabilize the chemicals during storage. |