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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)
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      Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)


      Mission: The safe elimination of chemical weapons at Pueblo and Blue Grass by Sept. 30, 2023

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      Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP)

      BGCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the Blue Grass Army Depot near Richmond, Kentucky.

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      Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

      PCAPP is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile currently in storage at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.

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The Next Step for EDS: Destroying ‘One Oh Fives’

    Home PCAPP News The Next Step for EDS: Destroying ‘One Oh Fives’

    The Next Step for EDS: Destroying ‘One Oh Fives’

    Published: April 14, 2015 | Category: PCAPP News, Technology
    • An operator places three 105mm projectiles into the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System.

      An operator places three 105mm projectiles into the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System.

    • The destroyed 105mm projectiles are placed in drums and disposed of as hazardous waste.

      The destroyed 105mm projectiles are placed in drums and disposed of as hazardous waste.

    After having been closely monitored and protected around the clock for decades at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, mustard-filled munitions are coming to an end. The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System, known as the PCAPP EDS, is eliminating problematic munitions that cannot be easily processed by the main plant.

    The PCAPP EDS is in the process of destroying 105mm projectiles, following the safe destruction of 10 Department of Transportation (DOT) bottles. The 105mm projectiles, which weigh approximately 32 pounds, are one of three types of chemical munitions in the Pueblo stockpile. Although the DOT bottles and 105mm projectiles are both filled with blister agent, the “one oh fives,” as they are called, also contain bursters and fuzes.

    “I am thrilled that we have started up the EDS,” said Terry Hart, chair of the Pueblo Board of the County Commissioners and vice-chair of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC). “We worked on this project for a number of years, and I always felt that it was the best technology to resolve problem rounds.”

    On April 8, crews successfully completed the destruction of three mustard-filled 105mm projectiles, marking the beginning of the end of Pueblo’s weaponized chemical munitions. During the first destruction campaign, the PCAPP EDS will destroy approximately 560 rounds, including 155mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortars. The system will augment the PCAPP facility until the entire stockpile is eliminated.

    The neutralization process and recovery of metal fragments, which involves adding chemicals, heating, cooling, turning the cylinder, opening the vessel and removing metal fragments, takes about six to eight hours. The word “explosive” in the name of the system is a bit of a misnomer, according to Laurence Gottschalk, director for the Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate, Chemical Materials Activity.

    On March 18, after months of planning, construction, testing, and approvals, agent operations were initiated when the first DOT bottle was destroyed. The build-up to that first “shot” was highly anticipated and began with the secure transfer of DOT bottles from a depot storage igloo to the PCAPP EDS site. Approved by the DOT for shipping small amounts of hazardous materials, the bottles contain mustard agent taken from various past sampling efforts to survey the condition of the stockpile.

    Shortly before noon, one DOT bottle was loaded into the EDS, the door was sealed, and after numerous safety checks, the first detonation occurred. That afternoon, the agent was verified fully destroyed. “Wow, what a momentous day for Pueblo, the United States and the world,” said CAC chair Irene Kornelly later that day. “Congratulations to all who worked so hard to make this day happen.”

    More PCAPP Techology Articles

    • Agent-filled 4.2-inch mortar rounds are monitored during Static Detonation Chamber agent trial testing operations at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

      Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

      Published: May 13, 2022
    • After a chemical weapon is drained of agent and rinsed with high-pressure hot water, Agent Washwater Separator tanks collect fluid before sending it to Agent Neutralization Reactors to destroy the mustard agent. The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant has two tanks, providing the plant with redundancy when neutralizing agent.

      Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

      Published: March 28, 2022
    • All chemical weapons from the Colorado stockpile are sorted into four color-coded lots to reduce delays in destruction due to problematic munitions.

      Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

      Published: March 23, 2022
    • A Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant ordnance technician holds the first 4.2-inch mortar round to be processed in the Static Detonation Chamber complex.

      First Agent Destroyed in Static Detonation Chamber

      Published: February 22, 2022
    • Static Detonation Chamber ordnance technicians Rachelle S. and Mike W. remove a 57mm conventional ammunition round from its fiber tube during SDC non-agent Trial Burn Testing.

      Conventional Explosives Demonstrate Static Detonation Chamber Capability

      Published: February 15, 2022
    • Munitions transporters unload inert 4.2-inch mortar rounds from the back of a Modified Ammunition Vehicle during Integrated Operations Demonstrations. (Portions of this photograph have been blurred in accordance with Department of Defense guidelines)

      Pueblo Static Detonation Chamber Team Demonstrates Operations

      Published: February 2, 2022
    • Ethylene glycol and monochlorobenzene are being used as mustard agent surrogates during testing of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant’s Static Detonation Chamber units.

      Mustard Agent Alternatives Used in Testing

      Published: January 12, 2022
    • Control room footage shows Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant workers preparing a cardboard box containing an empty, inert projectile for trial burn testing in a PCAPP Static Detonation Chamber unit.

      Detailed Timeline Guiding Pueblo Static Detonation Chamber Testing

      Published: December 2, 2021
    • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant ordnance technicians place an empty, inert projectile into a cardboard box to begin trial burn testing at the PCAPP Static Detonation Chamber.

      Pueblo Static Detonation Chamber Trial Burn Testing Begins

      Published: November 2, 2021
    • Three Static Detonation Chamber units at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant will augment the main plant by destroying 4.2-inch mortar rounds containing mustard agent. Phase one testing of the units slated to begin in late 2021.

      First Phase of Pueblo Detonation Testing to Begin

      Published: October 8, 2021
    PCAPP EDS

    Related Pages and Facts

    • Explosive Destruction System

      November 15, 2016

    Related News

    • Rejected Munitions Take Different Route to Destruction

      Rejected Munitions Take Different Route to Destruction

      October 3, 2016
    • Special Containers Protect Some Projectiles

      Special Containers Protect Some Projectiles

      August 10, 2016
    • First Explosive Destruction System Campaign Successfully Completed

      First Explosive Destruction System Campaign Successfully Completed

      February 19, 2016
    • Site Project Manager Recounts Year of Accomplishments

      Site Project Manager Recounts Year of Accomplishments

      January 8, 2016
    • System Restarts Chemical Agent Destruction Operations in Colorado

      System Restarts Chemical Agent Destruction Operations in Colorado

      October 6, 2015

    Related Videos

    • Colorado System Completes First Step in Munition Elimination

      Colorado System Completes First Step in Munition Elimination

      March 8, 2016
    • U.S. Army Destroys Reject Chemical Weapons Safely, Efficiently

      U.S. Army Destroys Reject Chemical Weapons Safely, Efficiently

      October 22, 2015
    • ACWA Snapshot: PCAPP Explosive Destruction System: The First Step in Eliminating Munitions

      ACWA Snapshot: PCAPP Explosive Destruction System: The First Step in Eliminating Munitions

      October 9, 2015
    • PCAPP Explosive Destruction System: The First Step in Eliminating Munitions

      PCAPP Explosive Destruction System: The First Step in Eliminating Munitions

      October 7, 2015
    • Honoring Our Commitment: The Start of Chemical Stockpile Destruction in Colorado

      Honoring Our Commitment: The Start of Chemical Stockpile Destruction in Colorado

      February 12, 2015

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