Local foes of Army's plan to burn nerve gas persuaded the federal government to change its plans; the job is now done

Craig Williams, local activist, became a national leader.

Headlines around the world Friday announced that the United States had completed destruction of its last chemical weapons, accomplishing a 1997 global treaty's goal of eliminating all declared national stockpiles of such weapons. The final deed was done at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Ky., ending decades of concern in the town of 36,000 and the surrounding rural area about leaks from the 23-square-mile depot and the incinerator that the Army wanted to build to burn nerve gases and other chemical agents.

Residents of the area mounted a campaign that succeeded in getting the plans changed to a chemical neutralization process, which required more billions and more time but eased fears. In 2019 U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell praised the Kentucky Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission and the Chemical Destruction Community Advisory Board, both co-chaired by local resident and Vietnam veteran Craig Williams. "He said no community has ever had a more effective leader looking out for their interests," the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

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“With singular focus and an unwavering drive, Craig poured over literally every document, every detail, and literally every inch of Blue Grass. He became the leading expert,” McConnell said. “Time and again, Craig showed an uncanny ability to find answers nobody wanted him to see.” The story of the efforts by Williams and others is told in a documentary by Ben Evans and the Kentucky Environmental Foundation, "Nerve," which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Environmental Film Festival at Yale University.