The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or PCAPP, is in the closure phase. From 2015 to 2023, the PCAPP team destroyed 780,078 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
- Brian Ramdwar replaced Troy Worthen as the PCAPP plant manager after serving previously as deputy plant manager.
- Significant sampling activity continues throughout the site.
- Closure waste shipments continued to permitted, hazardous waste facilities in Colorado and Texas.
Safety
- As of Jan. 26,the South Gate will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The North Gate will continue 24/7 operations. No entry or exit can be made through the South Gate during the closure period.
- As of Jan. 31, 2025, the Bechtel Pueblo team completed 4,839,795 hours without a lost-time accident.
Main Plant
- Workers disassembled and removed the exit conveyor, electrical panels and bins in Munitions Treatment Unit 1.
- In the Agent Neutralization Reactors 1 and 2, the dome has been raised and cribbed to access and remove the rope gasket. The static mixer also has been removed. Tank piping and equipment removal is ongoing in the Spent Decontamination System, and scaffolding is being built to access the off-gas treatment system.
Static Detonation Chambers (SDC)
- Per decision of the Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program executive officer, two SDC units will be transferred to the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Destruction Pilot Plant in Kentucky as a contingency before their eventual shipment to Maryland.
- An Unventilated Monitoring Test (UMT) was completed in Unit 1 followed by reinstallation of all filters to return the system to normal configuration per permit requirements.
- Process piping removal was completed in Unit 2 in preparation for a UMT the first week of February.
Workforce Transition
- 1,019 workers are employed on the project as of Jan. 31, 2025; 639 have been released.
- An on-site worker job fair was held Feb. 5 and 6 with representatives from multiple local, national and international companies. A virtual job fair will be held Feb. 12-13.
Environmental Permitting
- On Jan. 10, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved Permit Modification Request B077, which updated the closure plan to incorporate Part V Waste Management, and Closing Planning Notification PMR C005, which include various Hazardous Waste Management Units in the Agent Processing Building.
Public Outreach
- Walton Levi, site project manager, PCAPP, hosted a plant tour and update for two U.S. House of Representatives staffers Jan. 29.
Upcoming Meetings
- The next Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission meeting will be held online Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. MT. Join online by using the link and information below.
Online platform: Zoom
Phone: 1 (719) 359-4580 Meeting ID: 84351934182#
