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 end by the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023. U.S. public law mandates stockpile destruction by Dec. 31, 2023.

Project Update:

• Officials from the Department of Defense and U.S. Army toured the Pueblo plant and Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) complex Dec. 7 to observe overall operations and chemical weapons demilitarization mission progress. Deborah Rosenblum, Assistant Secretary of Defense, (Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Programs); Douglas Bush, Assistant Secretary of the Army, (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology); Kingston Reif, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control; and Laura Pegher, Director, Test and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, toured the main plant days after the Improved Cavity Access Machines (ICAMs) started to eliminate the 4.2-inch mortar rounds.
• Fourth- and fifth-grade students from Corwin International Magnet School toured the training facility on Dec. 15 to learn about the history of chemical weapons destruction in the United States and the PCAPP commitment to destroying mustard agent munitions through neutralization followed by biotreatment.
• The Pueblo plant celebrated 11 million work hours without a lost-time injury as well as the achievement of two milestones: 91% mustard agent destruction and elimination of 90% of the munitions stockpile at PCD.

Main Plant Update:

• On Dec. 1, Pueblo crews began destroying 4.2-inch mortar rounds in the main plant using an improved technology. This is the second phase of the third and final campaign to eliminate the chemical weapons stockpile at PCD. ICAMs were designed and installed to accommodate 4.2-inch mortar round processing in the main plant. The new design is based on previous Cavity Access Machine technology used to complete the 155mm and 105mm destruction campaigns.

SDC Update:

• The SDC complex saved its best month of the year for last. In December, the PCAPP workforce safely destroyed more than 5,100 4.2-inch mortar rounds.
• Since 4.2-inch mortar round destruction began Feb. 19 at the plant’s SDC complex, more than 24,200 rounds have been eliminated. The original stockpile contained more than 97,000 4.2-inch mortar rounds.
• The SDC complex is awaiting approval of the Multiple Pathway Health Risk Assessment, submitted on Nov. 3 to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), in order to operate at full capacity. The complex currently is operating at 75% capacity.

Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant Class 2 Permit Modification Request S002 and S026–Public Meeting
Jan. 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. MST. The meeting can be accessed with Zoom via computer or mobile app by typing https://tinyurl.com/4wxmpznt into your browser or by dialing 1 (719) 359-4580 and when prompted, using the following passcode: 897739#.

Permitting Working Group and Biotreatment Utilization Group Meetings
Jan. 25, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m. MST
Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meeting
Jan. 25, 2023, at approximately 3 p.m. MST
Computer: Zoom
Phone: 1 (669) 444 9171
Meeting ID: ‪844 3279 1550#

PCAPP is a facility built to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado. The main plant uses neutralization followed by biotreatment and is supplemented by Static Detonation Chamber units in destroying 4.2-inch mortar rounds. The safety of the workforce, neighboring communities and the environment is the project’s priority.