• COVID-19
  • Progress
  • eNewsletter Sign-Up
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Give Feedback
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)
  • HOME
  • PEO ACWA
    • ACWA logo

      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

    • About PEO ACWA
      • Destruction Progress
      • Chain of Command
      • Team Biographies
      • Program Timeline
      • Program Legislation
      • Public Involvement
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • PEO ACWA Media Library
      • PEO ACWA News
      • PEO ACWA Videos
      • PEO ACWA Facts
      • PEO ACWA Press Releases
      • PEO ACWA Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • BLUE GRASS
    • pcapp_logo
      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.

    • BGCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
      • Hydrolysate Shipments
    • BGCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • PUEBLO
    • pcapp_logo
      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.

    • PCAPP Homepage
      • Project Stages
      • Destruction Technologies
      • Team Biographies
      • Environmental Activities
      • Public Involvement
    • PCAPP Media Library
      • News
      • Videos
      • Facts
      • Press Releases
      • Briefings, Reports & Downloads
  • CONTACT US

First Explosive Destruction System Campaign Reaches Midpoint Ahead of Schedule

Published: July 14, 2015 | Category: PCAPP News
Steve Bird, right, describes how the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System destroys munitions to U.S. House of Representatives staff members during a June 30 tour.

Steve Bird, right, describes how the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System destroys munitions to U.S. House of Representatives staff members during a June 30 tour.

On June 18, operators document the first three 4.2-inch mortars to be destroyed by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System.

On June 18, operators document the first three 4.2-inch mortars to be destroyed by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System (PCAPP EDS) has reached the halfway point in its first campaign to destroy problematic chemical munitions stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD). As of July 7, 2015, the EDS has eliminated 283 items, including 10 Department of Transportation bottles, 243 105mm projectiles and 30 4.2-inch mortar rounds.

“The halfway point is a good time to think about the successful progress to date,” said Bruce Huenefeld, PCAPP EDS site project manager. “It was reached about three weeks ahead of schedule thanks to the EDS crews and their diligent efforts to follow all procedures and look for process improvements.”

Each day begins with staff checking the monitoring equipment and the lab, followed by a crew safety briefing and daily operations order. The crew follows a pre-operational inspection checklist to ensure each piece of equipment is operating properly. Next, weather conditions are checked, as are power sources and water. The communication system is verified operational, and the availability of emergency services and security is confirmed.

Before operations can begin, the required number of personnel needed to perform an operation is established. Munitions are removed from a storage igloo, unpacked and loaded onto the EDS. “The PCD Operations Center and Chemical Operations units have delivered munitions and provided support and oversight for each day of operations,” said Huenefeld. “We couldn’t have reached the halfway milestone early without the depot’s partnership and support.”

After detonation, neutralent is pumped in and the vessel is rotated. A neutralent sample is collected and analyzed, and then drained from the vessel. Water is added to the vessel, and steam heated for two hours, reaching 100 degrees Celsius. After the hot water is drained, the vessel is filled with cold water, rotated and drained. The EDS door is opened and an air sample is collected and analyzed. Finally, the vessel is cleaned and prepared for the next day.

One detonation, known as a “shot,” is conducted per day and may consist of up to six munitions. The schedule first called for the destruction of Department of Transportation bottles, then 105mm projectiles. On June 18, three 4.2-inch mortar rounds, the second type of munition to be processed, were combined with three 105mm munitions.

Earlier this month, 155mm munitions were introduced. At first, just three were eliminated in the EDS vessel in as many shots. After mixing in different configurations (i.e., three 155mm rounds with two 105mm projectiles; three 155s and three 105s; three 155 rounds and three 4.2-inch mortars, etc.), the EDS will move to processing the majority of the 155mm projectiles in shots using the ‘six-pack’ configuration.

More PCAPP Technology 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
No tags.

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

Connect with PEO ACWA

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Sign up for the Connect with ACWA e-newsletters to have information sent directly to your inbox. It’s a great way to stay connected with chemical weapons destruction plant activities.

Sign Up

Recent Tweets
  • Terms of Use
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
  • iSALUTE
  • Archive
  • Welcome to ACWA
  • Home
  • PEO ACWA Pages
    • About PEO ACWA
    • Destruction Progress
    • Team Biographies
    • Chain of Command
    • Program Timeline
    • Public Involvement
  • PEO ACWA Media Library
    • PEO ACWA Media Library (Main)
    • PEO ACWA News
    • PEO ACWA Videos
    • PEO ACWA Facts
    • PEO ACWA Press Releases
    • PEO ACWA Briefings and Reports
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Blue Grass Pages
    • BGCAPP Homepage
    • BGCAPP Project Stages
    • BGCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • BGCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at BGCAPP
    • Public Involvement at BGCAPP
    • Hydrolysate Shipments
  • BGCAPP Media Library
    • BGCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • BGCAPP News
    • BGCAPP Videos
    • BGCAPP Facts
    • BGCAPP Press Releases
    • BGCAPP Briefings, Reports and Downloads
  • Pueblo Pages
    • PCAPP Homepage
    • PCAPP Project Stages
    • PCAPP Destruction Technologies
    • PCAPP Team Biographies
    • Environmental Activities at PCAPP
    • Public Involvement at PCAPP
  • PCAPP Media Library
    • PCAPP Media Library (Main)
    • PCAPP News
    • PCAPP Videos
    • PCAPP Facts
    • PCAPP Press Releases
    • PCAPP Briefings, Reports, and Downloads
  • Archive
  • Job and Business Opportunities
  • Contact Us
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Privacy and Security Policy
Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)