The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant is safely destroying the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD), located near Pueblo, Colorado. The depot is responsible for safe and secure storage of the chemical weapons stockpile, which is stored in earth-covered igloos. Together, the U.S. Army and the communities surrounding PCD are working in a committed partnership to support the safe destruction of the stockpile.
The Pueblo chemical weapons stockpile initially comprised 2,613 U.S. tons of weaponized blister agent in 105mm and 155mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortar rounds. Destruction operations began in September 2016 and are scheduled to be completed in accordance with Chemical Weapons Convention commitment and Congressional mandate by 2023.
155MM PROJECTILE, M104 (HD) – M110 (HD)
Campaign Status: Complete | Campaign start: Sept. 7, 2016, Campaign end: Sept. 5, 2020
The M104 and M110 155mm projectiles are made of forged steel and filled with 11.7 pounds of blister agent HD, known as mustard. In 2020, the PCAPP team completed the destruction of nearly 300,000 155mm projectiles, using neutralization followed by biotreatment. Metal parts were decontaminated and recycled in accordance with all environmental laws and regulations. A number of 155mm projectiles, unsuitable for processing in the main plant, will be destroyed using Explosive Destruction Technology. The Explosive Destruction System destroyed 505 155mm projectiles, and Static Detonation Chamber units will process remaining problematic munitions.
105MM PROJECTILE, M60 (HD)
Campaign Status: Underway | Campaign start: Dec. 11, 2020
The M60 105mm projectiles are made of forged steel and filled with three pounds of blister agent HD, known as mustard. On Dec. 11, 2020, the PCAPP team began destroying these weapons using neutralization followed by biotreatment. A number of 105mm projectiles, unsuitable for processing in the main plant, will be destroyed using Explosive Destruction Technology. The Explosive Destruction System destroyed 304 105mm projectiles and Static Detonation Chamber units will process remaining problematic munitions.
4.2-INCH MORTAR ROUNDS, M2 (HT) – M2A1 (HD)
Campaign Status: Underway | Campaign start: Feb. 19, 2022
The M2 (HT) and M2A1 (HD) 4.2-inch mortar shell is made of forged steel and filled with 5.2 pounds of blister agent HT, known as mustard in the M2 round, and 6 pounds of blister agent HD, known as mustard, in the M2A1 round. Explosive Destruction Technology was chosen to process the 4.2-inch mortar rounds. The Explosive Destruction System destroyed 105 4.2-inch mortar rounds, and Static Detonation Chamber units began destroying the remaining rounds on Feb. 19, 2022.