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. The first two campaigns are complete. The remaining 4.2-inch mortar round campaign is expected to be completed by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023. U.S. public law mandates stockpile destruction by Dec. 31, 2023.

Project Update:

• As of Oct. 30, approximately 698,000 projectiles have been destroyed throughout the duration of the PCAPP demilitarization project. This accounts for approximately 89.5% of the projectiles in the original chemical weapons stockpile stored at PCD. Approximately 81,000 projectiles remain.
• Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) destruction is the focal point of PCAPP operations. In October, approximately 3,400 4.2-inch mortar rounds were destroyed.

Main Plant Update:

• The plan to destroy a portion of the 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the main plant is under review by Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regulators. The plan incorporates the use of Improved Cavity Access Machines, or ICAMs, which are part of the Munitions Washout System in the Agent Processing Building that will remove burster wells and mustard agent and then rinse the munition bodies. In the original PCAPP design, destruction of the mortar rounds would have required a cutting process to drain the agent, but with the ICAMs agent will be removed with a vacuum system, making the entire process safer and increasing the rates of 4.2-inch mortar round destruction.

SDC Update:

• Three SDC units 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.
• Since 4.2-inch mortar round destruction began Feb. 19 at the plant’s SDC complex, more than 15,300 rounds have been destroyed. In October, more than 3,400 rounds were destroyed. The original stockpile contained more than 97,000 4.2-inch mortar rounds.
• In September, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment gave its approval for the PCAPP SDC units to operate concurrently at 75% capacity. Each SDC unit may now process approximately four munitions per hour.

Public Meeting to discuss a Colorado Permit Modification Request S021 on Nov. 16, 2022, at 3:30 p.m. MST
Computer: Microsoft Teams
Phone: 1 323-457-4703, Conference ID: 319 060 62#

Public Meeting to discuss a Colorado Permit Modification Request on Dec. 14, 2022, 3 p.m. MST
Computer: Microsoft Teams
Phone: 1 469-998-5921, Conference ID: 294 787 140#

Permitting Working Group and Biotreatment Utilization Group Meetings
Dec. 14, 2022, at approximately 5 p.m. MST

Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meeting
Dec. 14, 2022, at approximately 5 p.m. MST
Zoom meeting information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85125795932
Call-in:
Phone:1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 851 2579 5932

PCAPP is a facility built to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at PCD. The main plant uses neutralization followed by biotreatment and is supplemented by Static Detonation Chamber units to destroy the remaining mustard agent in 4.2-inch mortar rounds. The safety of the workforce, neighboring communities and the environment is the project’s priority.