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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)

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Alert Pueblo Plant Workers Keep Downtime to a Minimum

Published: April 1, 2019 | Category: PCAPP News, Safety
A still from closed-circuit video shows evidence of leaking liquid from a 155mm chemical projectile being disassembled for destruction at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Cameras help workers catch issues with aging munitions before mustard agent can spread through other areas the plant and delay processing for long.

A still from closed-circuit video shows evidence of leaking liquid from a 155mm chemical projectile being disassembled for destruction at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Cameras help workers catch issues with aging munitions before mustard agent can spread through other areas the plant and delay processing for long.

A chemical munition began to leak while being prepared for destruction in February and was quickly identified and contained before mustard agent could affect a wide area of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant.

“Thanks to alert personnel following established procedures, and valuable lessons learned from previous incidents, downtime was minimal,” said Walton Levi, acting site project manager, PCAPP.

When a Control Room Operator noticed the presence of a liquid at the Nose Closure Removal Station, his quick action stopped the enhanced reconfiguration process in the Explosive Containment Room, preventing the spread of mustard agent contamination beyond that area to any other part of the plant.

“Had it progressed into the munitions or parts monitoring enclosures, we would have had an exponentially larger cleanup effort,” said Brian Ramdwar, Bechtel Pueblo Team deputy plant manager, PCAPP.

Air monitoring systems then also detected the presence of the chemical agent, and alarms notified the personnel, who reacted quickly with a recovery plan to return the site to working order. The alert worker noticing the liquid before air monitors sounded added to worker safety and allowed recovery to begin faster.

The leaking munition, a 155mm projectile being reconfigured for agent destruction, was securely packed away for later destruction.

Leaks are a possibility with an aging stockpile, therefore plant workers continually train to contain the agent quickly, Ramdwar said.

Related Posts

  • 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
PCAPP Training

Other Recent PCAPP News

  • Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    Static Detonation Chamber Trial Testing Concludes

    May 13, 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
  • Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    Color Coding Boosts Chemical Weapon Destruction

    March 23, 2022
  • Plant Closely Monitors Permit Requirements

    Plant Closely Monitors Permit Requirements

    February 24, 2022

PCAPP Safety Videos

  • PCAPP Safety: Written in the Stars

    PCAPP Safety: Written in the Stars

    June 8, 2015
  • Pueblo Plant Operational Readiness Review

    Pueblo Plant Operational Readiness Review

    February 25, 2014
  • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Hazard School Board

    Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Hazard School Board

    August 16, 2013
  • PCAPP and the Community Share in National Safety Award

    PCAPP and the Community Share in National Safety Award

    March 31, 2009

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