Chemical Weapons Destruction at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP):
PCAPP is destroying the remaining U.S. chemical weapons stockpile stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) in Colorado. The original stockpile consisted of approximately 780,000 total chemical weapons containing mustard agent. The Colorado stockpile originally comprised three chemical munition types: 155mm and 105mm projectiles, and 4.2-inch mortar rounds.
Highlights
Project Update:
- In May, personnel from PCD as well as Pueblo County agencies participated in a live, full-scale exercise to test their response to a potential chemical weapons stockpile emergency. The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program exercise was the first hands-on event since pandemic restrictions began in 2020.
- On May 9, Walton Levi, site project manager, PCAPP; Todd Ailes, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team; and Col. Jason A. Lacroix, commander, PCD, provided a chemical weapons destruction update to Pueblo City Council. In addition to the status update, officials briefed the city council about the project’s closure phase.
- PCD observed its 80th anniversary in an event held at the depot on May 18. The event, which reflected upon the depot’s eight decades of military operations support, included a keynote address from Nicholas Stamatakis III, deputy program executive officer, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.
Main Plant Update:
- The original stockpile stored at PCD contained more than 380,000 105mm chemical weapons. Destruction of the 105mm projectile munition type began in December 2020.
- Since destruction operations began in December 2020, more than 355,000 105mm projectiles have been destroyed, accounting for approximately 93% of the total inventory of the 105mm munition type.
- In the month of May, more than 21,000 105mm projectiles were destroyed, an average of approximately 675 per day.
SDC Update:
- The SDC complex consists of three units that augment operations at PCAPP by destroying problematic munitions, including 4.2-inch mortar rounds. SDC technology uses thermal heating to safely detonate or deflagrate munitions, mustard agent and explosive components.
- Trial testing at the SDC complex concluded in May. The tests, which occurred in two phases, demonstrated each SDC unit operate as designed. The first phase consisted of non-agent tests while the latest phase evaluated each unit’s ability to destroy agent-filled munitions. Trial tests are a requirement of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit that governs agent-destruction at PCAPP.
- The original stockpile stored at PCD contained more than 97,000 4.2-inch mortar rounds. Destruction of 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the SDC complex began on Feb. 19, 2022.
- Since 4.2-inch mortar round destruction began, more than 3,000 rounds have been destroyed. In the month of May, more than 1,000 rounds were destroyed.
Upcoming Meetings
Permitting Working Group and Biotreatment Utilization Group Meetings
June 29, 2022, at approximately 2 p.m. MDT
Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meeting
June 29, 2022, at approximately 2 p.m. MDT
Zoom meeting information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85125795932
Call-in:
Phone:1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 851 2579 5932
New to PCAPP?
PCAPP is a facility built to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at PCD. The main plant uses neutralization followed by biotreatment to destroy 155mm and 105mm chemical weapons. The safety of the workforce and neighboring communities is the project’s priority.
The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives is targeting completion of the destruction of the remaining stockpile by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023. U.S. Public Law 99-145 mandates stockpile destruction by Dec. 31, 2023.
