The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recently approved two documents integral to the continued closure of the Pueblo plant.

On May 30, state regulators approved a plan to demolish facilities at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, or PCAPP.  

“After months of hard work by the PCAPP team to finalize and create various supplemental documents to the main plant demolition plan, we received approval that will allow us to move forward,” said Todd Ailes, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team. “Our entire team supported us through this process by completing testing, reworking laboratory documentation and developing new plans for stormwater containment.”

The approved plan sets the course for demolition of the plant Hazardous Waste Management Units and their associated buildings and structures, after their associated demolition readiness reports have been reviewed and accepted by the state. Demolition of the main plant is one of the final stages in fully closing the facility, with the last stage being administrative closeout.

The state also approved the Reuse Readiness Report for Static Detonation Chamber, or SDC, Unit 3 June 17, which allowed disassembly of that final unit to begin. (Earlier, in May, the state approved the SDC closure plan update, which spelled out the process for reuse of the three units, and the report for SDC Unit 2, allowing for its transport and eventual reuse.)

SDC Unit 1 has already been disassembled and transported. All three SDC units are expected to be transferred to other U.S. Army sites by mid-summer.

The process is underway for selection of a subcontractor for PCAPP demolition, which is on track to begin in early 2026. Selected, non-contaminated buildings and equipment may be retained by PuebloPlex, the local reuse authority.