Operations at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Explosive Destruction System, or PCAPP EDS, restarted Oct. 5 with the successful destruction of four 155mm projectiles.

“Speaking for myself and the EDS crew, we are absolutely thrilled to be back in operations,” said Bruce Huenefeld, site project manager.

Huenefeld said it took some time to arrange for the repair and get the necessary equipment and specialists on site, but each step was prudent.

“It was good that we proceeded carefully on the repair and verified and documented each step,” he said. “The end result is a fully restored EDS door sealing surface that is as good as or better than before the damage.”

The project had been paused since technicians discovered the system’s door seal surface was damaged Aug. 7. The seal surface was welded and machined back to original specifications, leak tests were performed, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved restarting the unit, Huenefeld said.

“During the Aug. 6 operation, a compression divot was created,” said Huenefeld. “In order to repair the divot, the entire seal surface had to be machined out and built back up with two layers of welding.”

The PCAPP EDS has safely eliminated 351 items to date, with 209 munitions remaining in its first campaign.