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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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Pueblo Plant Transitions From Pilot Testing Into Full Operations

Published: July 17, 2019 | Category: Events, PCAPP News
  • Inside the Agent Processing Building of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, an ordnance technician stands watch as another uses a munitions handling lift assist unit to place disassembled 155mm projectiles onto a conveyor for neutralization processing. The Pueblo plant has entered its operations phase after successfully completing a lengthy pilot testing period.

    Inside the Agent Processing Building of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, an ordnance technician stands watch as another uses a munitions handling lift assist unit to place disassembled 155mm projectiles onto a conveyor for neutralization processing. The Pueblo plant has entered its operations phase after successfully completing a lengthy pilot testing period.

  • The protective enclosures that surround the Immobilized Cell Bioreactors and the Brine Reduction System in the Biotreatment Area of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant are illuminated by the rising sun. The Pueblo plant has entered its operations phase after successfully completing a lengthy pilot testing period.

    The protective enclosures that surround the Immobilized Cell Bioreactors and the Brine Reduction System in the Biotreatment Area of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant are illuminated by the rising sun. The Pueblo plant has entered its operations phase after successfully completing a lengthy pilot testing period.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is considered a fully operational facility after reaching milestones that mark the end of pilot testing.

“We are now officially complete with pilot testing,” said Ken Harrawood, project manager for the Bechtel Pueblo Team, speaking to the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission at a recent public meeting.

In early May the Pueblo plant, which is destroying munitions stored at the U.S. Army’s Pueblo Chemical Depot since the 1950s, successfully completed a third and final round of background sampling for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Harrawood said the state then lifted a cap of 137,000 munitions that it imposed for testing to gather data for a state permit application.

Following testing, a regulatory permit now restricts the plant to a processing rate of 24 155mm projectiles per hour. Harrawood said he expects that limit to be eased once the state has analyzed the data collected during testing. The state will then issue its permit.

The Pueblo facility is a pilot plant because it’s the first of its kind built to destroy chemical weapons by disassembling and draining munitions. A process chosen in partnership with the community, neutralization followed by biotreatment, is used to destroy the drained mustard agent.

The U.S is working to complete the destruction of its remaining chemical weapons stockpile by Dec. 31, 2023.

PCAPP Event Articles

  • Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant workers celebrate the destruction of 50% of the mustard agent in the Colorado chemical weapons stockpile on Feb. 26. An April 4 public celebration to mark the milestone has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Pueblo Event Marking Mustard Agent Milestone Canceled

    Published: March 17, 2020
  • An ordnance technician at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant reconfigures a 4.2-inch mortar round from its ready-to-use state to one ready for processing and destruction.

    Destruction Campaign Progresses at Pueblo Plant

    Published: November 15, 2019
  • Static Detonation Chamber components are placed on their concrete pad at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in Colorado. Three SDC units will be assembled to aid the main plant in its mission to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot.

    Pueblo Plant Begins Static Detonation Chamber Assembly

    Published: November 12, 2019
  • The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is pursuing a final Part B Hazardous Waste Operating Permit, which will govern the processing of the remaining chemical munitions stockpile.

    Pueblo Plant Pursues Final Operating Permit for Main Process

    Published: November 8, 2019
  • Pleasant View Middle School students, along with teacher Todd Seip, watch training specialist Kent Ladd point out the parts and contents of a chemical weapon during a Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Training Facility tour.

    Chemical Demilitarization in the Classroom

    Published: October 30, 2019
  • A worker at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant places 105mm projectiles that have been unboxed and reconfigured for processing on a pallet using a motorized lift assist.

    Pueblo Plant Destroys More Than 1,000 U.S. Tons of Chemical Warfare Agent

    Published: October 2, 2019
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Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)