The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or PCAPP, is in the closure phase. From 2015 to 2023, the PCAPP team destroyed more than 780,000 projectiles and mortar rounds containing 2,613 tons of the blister agent mustard. The last chemical weapon in the stockpile in Colorado was destroyed June 22, 2023. The Pueblo plant will be in the closure phase for approximately three years.
The last chemical munition in the declared U.S. stockpile was destroyed July 7, 2023, in Richmond, Kentucky.
Highlights
- Tami Atkins, program executive officer, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives (PEO ACWA) and Troy Workman, deputy program executive officer and director of business operations, PEO ACWA, visited the PCAPP site to assess closure progress and meet with Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission members and project partners.
- Closure waste shipments continue to permitted hazardous waste facilities in Colorado and Texas.
Safety
- As of Oct. 31, 2024, completed 4,352,980 hours without a lost-time accident.
Main Plant
- Pump and piping removal was conducted in the Agent Neutralization Reactor following approval of Permit Modification Request (PMR) C001, Closure Planning Notification APB/TOX – Spent Decontamination Tanks, Agent Hydrolyzers, Agent Hydrolysate Hold Tanks, 30-Day Tank 201.
- Equipment removal was completed in the Agent Wash Water Separators and Wash Water Collection Tanks.
- Concrete chip samples were conducted around the feed/effluent tanks and floor rinsate samples and informational sampling of piping were taken from the Agent Processing Building and 30-day hydrolysate storage tanks.
- The Unventilated Monitoring Test (UMT) was successfully repeated in Explosive Containment Room #1 of the Enhanced Reconfiguration Building.
Static Detonation Chambers (SDC)
- The SDC closure plan remained under review by state regulators.
- Safety and compliant restart readiness activities were conducted in anticipation of SDC closure plan approval in the coming weeks.
- Planning visits by other U.S. Army organization representatives continued this month in preparation for the disassembly and packaging of one SDC unit in 2025.
Workforce
- 1,048 workers are employed on the project as of Oct. 31; 602 have been released.
Environmental Permitting
- Public comment periods remain open for two PMRs following an Oct. 30 public meeting:
- PMR B065: Revisions to Laboratory Documents (60-day public comment period Sept. 17 – Nov. 16)
- PMR B074: Main Plant Demolition Plan (60-day public comment period Sept. 23 – Nov. 22)
Upcoming Meetings
- The next Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission meeting will be held online at 3 p.m. MT Wednesday, Dec. 11. Join online by using the link and information below.
Computer: Zoom
Phone: 1 (719) 359-4580
Meeting ID: 84351934182#
