The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) completed destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile previously stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) in Colorado on June 22, 2023. The stockpile consisted of 780,089 chemical weapons containing 2,613 U.S. tons of mustard agent.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) is in the closure phase, which will take approximately three years. Plant closure involves the decontamination and decommissioning of facilities and equipment, disposition of property, demolition of facilities not required for future U.S. Army use, and closure of government contracts and environmental permits in accordance with laws and regulations.

The safety of the workforce, community and environment continues to be the plant’s highest priority during the closure phase.

Project Update:

• On June 22, PCAPP recognized the one-year anniversary of the end of destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile in Colorado.
• Representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention visited the plant for the annual laboratory and monitoring review.
• Between Jan. 1 and June 23, more than 175,000 pounds of contaminated closure waste was shipped to hazardous waste facilities in Deer Trail, Colorado, and near Port Arthur, Texas.
• More than 200 PCAPP and PCD employees attended a job fair with representatives from other Bechtel, Amentum and Battelle projects and local industrial park companies.

Main Plant:

• The Biotreatment Area officially ceased operations June 20. Workers are clearing out and starting to dismantle the system.
• The plant received state approval of a Temporary Authorization to replumb agent piping to mechanically isolate the systems that are no longer needed for treatment of agent from munitions, while awaiting approval of the full permit modification request.
• Workers are conducting Unventilated Monitoring Tests in the Explosive Containment Rooms and installating six chemical agent air-monitoring systems in areas of the plant for worker safety during the closure phase.
• The industrial operations boilers will be shut down as they are too large to support closure requirements. Temporary boilers will be installed to maintain building heat and support remaining decontamination needs.
• Routine maintenance through Demilitarization Protective Ensemble entries continues, as does waste management and general housekeeping.

Static Detonation Chambers (SDC):

• The closure plan for the SDC complex remains under review by state regulators.
• Government representatives visited the plant to begin discussions and planning for transporting the SDC units to their new locations at Army installations in Maryland and Alabama. The disassembly process should take about three months.
• Limited activity is occurring at the SDC complex, which continues to undergo routine maintenance, waste management and general housekeeping with minimal staffing.

• The next Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission meetings will be online at 3 p.m. MT on Aug. 28.
  
  Individuals interested in joining online can participate using the link and information below.
  
  Computer: Zoom
  Phone: 1 (719) 359-4580
  Meeting ID:  844 3279 1550#