The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) has completed destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile formerly stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD), now known as the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity-West (CMA-West), in Pueblo, Colorado. The U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) Program Executive Office, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) was responsible for the destruction of these weapons and is now focusing on the closure of the destruction facilities. The program’s priority during closure is the safety of the workforce, neighboring communities and the environment. PEO ACWA targeted destruction of the stockpile by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) treaty commitment of Sept. 30, 2023, and destroyed the last munition in the stockpile of chemical weapons in Colorado June 22, 2024.
The Pueblo plant consists of two destruction facilities and associated support buildings:
- The main plant destroyed mustard agent contained in 4.2-inch mortar rounds and 155mm and 105mm projectiles.
- The Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) complex destroyed munitions that were not practical to destroy in the main plant.
Once the chemical agent stockpile was destroyed, agent-related material, such as empty munition bodies and Brine Reduction System (BRS) solids, needed to be eliminated. Such items were considered secondary waste but were tracked to destruction by international verification inspectors with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The empty munition bodies and BRS solids were shipped for disposal at a permitted Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) approved under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
Now destruction operations are complete, the facilities are being closed in a safe, environmentally protective and compliant manner. Closing a chemical agent destruction facility involves the following five major factors, sequenced to occur in compliance with all permits, regulations and requirements:
- Decontamination: removing residual chemical agent contamination to safe and environmentally protective levels, as prescribed by permits.
- Decommissioning: rendering equipment safe for removal and eventual demolition or future use.
- Dispositioning: transferring government personal property for reuse, sale, recycling or disposal; and reconfiguring real property for PuebloPlex, the local redevelopment authority for PCD/CMA-West.
- Demolition: removing facilities not required for future use.
- Administrative closeout: closing environmental permits, contracts and interagency agreements and archiving records.
Facility-specific closure information follows:
Main Plant
Closure of PCAPP’s main plant will be more complicated and take longer than closure of the SDC units, due to its size and complexity. The Chemical Limited Area (CLA) contains multiple rooms and numerous pieces of equipment that will require decontamination, decommissioning and dispositioning before its demolition.
SDC Complex
As the facility is smaller, less complex than the main plant, and not enclosed in steel-reinforced concrete, the closure process is expected to take less time and manpower. All three SDC units are considered personal property (e.g., end item, material, spares and repair parts), as opposed to real property (e.g., land, buildings, utility systems and other infrastructure), and are planned to be reused by other DOD organizations.
Property Disposition
Any buildings used directly for chemical agent destruction, such as those in the CLA, will be demolished. Other buildings and infrastructure may be retained by PuebloPlex as real property, as determined by the Base Realignment and Closure plan. Buildings and infrastructure not retained will be demolished as part of the PEO ACWA closure process. Personal property, such as uncontaminated or decontaminated equipment, tools, excess parts and office furniture, will first be screened for reuse by the Army and other federal organizations and then made available to the public as surplus.
Workforce
Skilled, trained and experienced personnel are the hallmark of the PCAPP project, with many employees having previous closure experience from other U.S. chemical demilitarization facilities. As the project moves through the closure phase, the workforce will be reduced as activities conclude in their areas of expertise. To retain these qualified, experienced workers, the government and contractor companies have programs in place to realign personnel with other available positions. In addition, various government, community and business groups are investigating possibilities for retaining skilled personnel through other local business opportunities. As demolition activities ramp up, the workforce will shift to a commercial contractor focus, with administrative, safety and other positions remaining from operations.
Environmental Compliance
The priority at PCAPP is to ensure the utmost protection to the workforce, community and environment. During closure, PCAPP continues to operate under local, state and federal laws and regulations. The closure process is principally governed under a hazardous waste permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) under RCRA, and other applicable environmental regulations and permits administered by CDPHE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The end stage of the closure phase for each facility is the closeout of the RCRA and other permits, a major part of the administrative closeout phase.
Public Participation
Another key element of PCAPP closure is the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC). These meetings provide a forum for the PCAPP staff, government officials, PEO ACWA leadership, members of the commission and the public to exchange information regarding plant closure in Colorado. The CAC will remain active until either the end of closure activities or upon the request of the Colorado governor.
Partner Organizations
PCD originally stored 2,613 U.S. tons of mustard agent. The mission of PCD was to support delivery of chemical munitions to PCAPP while safely securing, storing and monitoring the chemical weapons stockpile. With the PCAPP completion of destruction of the chemical weapons and secondary waste operations in the SDC units, the PCD mission is complete, and it was deactivated in a Sept. 12, 2024, ceremony, transitioning into CMA-West. It is supporting PCAPP closure and will also go through a closure phase, which includes closing out the igloos that housed the chemical weapons and turning them over to PuebloPlex. The Colorado Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program closed approximately six months after all chemical munitions were destroyed.
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