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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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Anniston Static Detonation Chamber to Destroy Pueblo’s Energetics

Published: December 4, 2015 | Category: PCAPP News, Technology

An Anniston Field Office employee shines a flashlight on the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) to observe scrap metal inside the stainless steel vessel. The SDC will use electrically-generated heat, up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, to detonate non-contaminated explosive components from the Pueblo stockpile.

 Staff at the Anniston Field Office (AFO), Anniston Army Depot, Alabama, will support the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) mission when the Anniston Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) is used to destroy energetic components from the Pueblo stockpile.

“Anniston is uniquely prepared to support the Pueblo mission because we have processed over 100,000 munitions or energetic components through the SDC,” said Will Leslie, SDC plant manager.

The Anniston SDC will augment PCAPP by destroying non-contaminated explosive components removed from the munitions processed by PCAPP. It uses electrically-generated heat, up to 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit, to detonate explosive components, he said.

“They’re [the Anniston team] experienced in the processing of energetics and they’ve processed many already that are very similar to the ones we are going to ship them,” said Paul Dent, operations integration manager at PCAPP. “So, we have a high degree of confidence that everything will be done compliantly, safely and efficiently.”

SDC staff is currently conducting a treatability study in an effort to increase the net explosive weight feed limit.

“This effort will benefit the PCAPP project because increased feed rates will result in reduction in schedule and cost to process the PCAPP energetics,” said Leslie Ware, deputy project manager, AFO.

In preparation for the future receipt of the energetic components, the Anniston and PCAPP teams are ensuring issues associated with shipping and receiving are being identified and resolved, Ware said.

The Anniston team is also planning for treaty compliance by preparing for an upcoming Facility Engineering Review performed by treaty inspectors, Ware said. During this inspection, officials from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons examine the facility to ensure that detailed facility information and verification processes are accurate.

More PCAPP Technology Articles

  • The Improved Cavity Access Machine was proposed to safely destroy 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant automated process. Based on existing Cavity Access Machine technology, the ICAM uses a vacuum-powered probe to remove agent.

    Improved Equipment Could Accelerate Destruction at Pueblo Plant

    Published: July 5, 2022
  • 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
Anniston

Recent PCAPP Articles

  • Improved Equipment Could Accelerate Destruction at Pueblo Plant

    Improved Equipment Could Accelerate Destruction at Pueblo Plant

    July 5, 2022
  • Colorado Commission Welcomes New Member

    Colorado Commission Welcomes New Member

    May 4, 2022
  • Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    Backup Systems Allow for Safe Repairs

    March 28, 2022
  • Plant Closely Monitors Permit Requirements

    Plant Closely Monitors Permit Requirements

    February 24, 2022
  • New Bechtel Pueblo Team Manager Takes Helm

    New Bechtel Pueblo Team Manager Takes Helm

    November 18, 2021
  • Redevelopment CEO Appointed to Colorado Advisory Commission

    Redevelopment CEO Appointed to Colorado Advisory Commission

    October 28, 2021

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