The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant safely destroyed the chemical weapons stockpile formerly stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD), near Pueblo, Colorado. The depot was responsible for safe and secure storage of the chemical weapons stockpile housed in earth-covered igloos.
Prior to destruction operations, the Pueblo chemical weapons stockpile comprised 2,613 U.S. tons of weaponized mustard agent in 105mm and 155mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortar rounds. The Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) completed stockpile destruction operations on June 22, 2023, in advance of the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023. PEO ACWA is now focused on the safe and environmentally compliant closure of the plant.
155MM PROJECTILE, M104 (HD) – M110 (HD)
Campaign Status: Complete | Campaign started: Sept. 7, 2016 / Campaign ended: Sept. 5, 2020
The M104 and M110 155mm projectiles were made of forged steel and filled with 11.7 pounds of blistering agent HD, also known as mustard. In September 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, were destroyed using Explosive Destruction Technology. The Explosive Destruction System destroyed 505 155mm projectiles, and Static Detonation Chamber units processed the remaining problematic munitions.
105MM PROJECTILE, M60 (HD)
Campaign Status: Complete | Campaign started: Dec. 11, 2020 / Campaign ended: July 20, 2022
The M60 105mm projectiles were made of forged steel and filled with 3 pounds of mustard agent. In July 2022, the PCAPP team completed the destruction of nearly 383,000 105mm projectiles using neutralization followed by biotreatment. A number of 105mm projectiles, unsuitable for processing in the main plant, were destroyed using Explosive Destruction Technology. The Explosive Destruction System destroyed 304 105mm projectiles and Static Detonation Chamber units processed the remaining problematic munitions.
4.2-INCH MORTAR ROUNDS, M2 (HT) – M2A1 (HD)
Campaign Status: Complete | SDC Campaign started: Feb. 19, 2022, and Main Plant Campaign started: Dec. 1, 2022 / Campaign ended: June 16, 2023
The M2 (HT) and M2A1 (HD) 4.2-inch mortar rounds were made of forged steel. The M2 round was filled with 5.2 pounds of mustard agent and the M2A1 round contained 6 pounds of mustard agent. Explosive Destruction Technology was chosen to process the 4.2-inch mortar rounds. Modifications to process a portion of these rounds in the main plant were approved and that destruction began Dec. 1, 2022. The Explosive Destruction System destroyed more than 100 4.2-inch mortar rounds and the Static Detonation Chamber destroyed more than 50,000 4.2-inch mortar rounds.