PCAPP Monthly Recap – August 2019 | Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA)

PCAPP Monthly Recap – August 2019

Published: August 28, 2019 | Category: Monthly Recap, PCAPP News

Highlights

Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) site construction continued in August as shipping containers carrying the first of three SDCs arrived at the former location of the Explosive Destruction System. The SDCs will augment the main plant by destroying 4.2-inch mortar rounds and any other problematic projectiles not suitable for automated processing in the main plant. Electrical work has begun and concrete pouring is underway.
Michael S. Abaie, program executive officer, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) announced at the July 31 Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission meeting that more than half of the 155mm projectiles at PCD had been destroyed. Walton Levi, site project manager, PCAPP, said this milestone represents a total reduction of Colorado’s chemical agent stockpile by one-third.
Repairs and testing continued after seepage took two of three 30-day hydrolysate storage tanks out of commission in mid-May. Following repairs, one tank already inspected and returned to service. The second affected tank currently undergoing inspection and repair before it is returned to service.
The main plant has requested and received Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) approval to increase the rate of munitions processing from 24 projectiles per hour to 32.
Change-out of filters in the Agent Filtration Area continues in compliance with CDPHE oversight.
The Multipathway Health Risk Assessment (MPHRA) report for PCAPP with explosive destruction technology such as the Explosive Destruction System and SDCs has been submitted to CDPHE. The MPHRA collects data from spring’s Integrated Facilities Demonstrations, during which records for processing were set.
As of Aug. 23, 158,618 155mm projectiles had been processed in the main plant.
Baseline Reconfiguration of 4.2-inch boxed mortar rounds from boxed storage to pallets ready for processing continues. As of Aug. 23, 47,437 4.2-inch mortar rounds have been reconfigured.

Upcoming Meetings

Permitting and Biotreatment Utilization Group Meeting
Sept. 25, 2019, at 2 p.m. MDT
District Attorney’s Conference Room
701 Court St.
Pueblo, Colorado

Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission
Sept. 25, 2019, at 6 p.m. MDT
Boone Community Center
421 E. First St.
Boone, Colorado

New to PCAPP?

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is a state-of-the-art facility built to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado. The main plant uses neutralization followed by biotreatment to destroy the mustard agent stockpile. The safety of the workforce and neighboring communities is the project’s most important priority.