Workers completed the assembly of the three Static Detonation Chamber units at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant in July.

“We now have achieved the construction completion milestone for the three SDCs,” said Ken Harrawood, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team.

 The SDC units were added to augment the main plant by destroying problematic chemical munitions whose physical characteristics are unsuitable for processing by the pilot plant’s automated systems.

This isn’t the first construction milestone for this destruction technology. This June, the tension fabric coverings that now surround the SDC units, known as Sprung structures, were also completed. The structures will protect the units from natural elements and allow for continual operations.

Harrawood also said that though the construction specific to each individual pad is complete, there are some common systems that go between each pad, like closed circuit television, fire detection, fire suppression and sidewalk paving that are still being completed. These elements should be finished soon , as the units are expected to begin operating by December 2020.

“Things are moving rapidly,” said Troy Worthen, SDC plant manager, PCAPP. “Our crews are training on the equipment and getting up to speed for the start-up phase.”