Workers started removing portions of the air-filtration system in April that captured chemical-agent and other organic vapors from air circulating within the munitions processing buildings at the Pueblo plant.

The workforce has completed removal of agent-contaminated carbon filter banks from one of the 10 filtration units that make up the Agent Filtration System (AFS), according to Brian Ramdwar, plant manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team. During plant operations, this system protected the workforce, community and environment by cleansing the air leaving the facility.

“After removal of the contaminated banks, workers decontaminated the filter unit followed by successful testing that demonstrated no residual agent remained,” Ramdwar said. “This same process and approach will be utilized on the remaining nine units.” 

Each of the 10 filter units contains six banks with each bank holding 48 trays of activated carbon. During operations, the first three banks filtered potentially agent-contaminated air with the remaining three banks serving as redundant capacity if needed. During that time, the plant operated eight of the filter units with the other two serving as backup units. 

While removing the carbon banks, plant workers wore Occupational Safety and Health Administration-compliant encapsulated suits to protect themselves from agent contamination and exposure. The removed carbon was placed in containers, stored, and will be disposed of as hazardous waste per state and federal requirements.

Final operational shutdown and closure of the AFS will take place after completion of decontamination activities and associated verification testing for the munitions processing buildings have been documented in demolition readiness reports and those reports approved by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.