PEO ACWA remains committed to the health and safety of the workforce and the surrounding communities and will remain vigilant in its response to any health-related situations.

Chemical weapons destruction operations have continued in the U.S. and have not been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. PEO ACWA continues to follow pandemic guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army.

Along with the rigorous safety requirements for chemical weapons destruction operations, measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections among the workforce and in our communities are in place but remain flexible due to the changing nature of the pandemic and varied rates of infection, depending on location.

We remain committed to meeting the Sept. 30,  2023, treaty commitment for stockpile elimination, and we continue to evaluate the pandemic situation with the health and safety of our employees and the local community at the forefront.

Please visit https://www.army.mil/coronavirus/ for additional information.

Chemical weapons destruction operations have continued in the U.S. throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while implementing new protocols to keep the workforce safe.

PEO ACWA, in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continues to monitor transmission rates and take the necessary precautions to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Per a Department of Defense directive on July 28, 2021, in areas of substantial or high community transmission rates, all staff and visitors must wear a face mask, regardless of the person’s vaccination status. PEO ACWA continues to institute additional safety measures to reduce the risk to the workforce and communities near Richmond, Kentucky, and Pueblo, Colorado. This includes:

• Reduce the on-site workforce and implement teleworking where practical.
• Employ prudent social distancing techniques.
• Suspend public visits to the facilities.
• Institute employee health self-screening and provide onsite screening for the workforce.
• Provide community stakeholders with project updates through virtual meetings and operate the Chemical Stockpile Outreach Offices in accordance with recommended local health guidelines.
• Work with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process via electronic means.
• The Pueblo and Blue Grass plants continue to evaluate local conditions and have flexible plans in place to continue the mission safely.

For more information on the site-specific COVID-19 response, please visit the ACWA Headquarters, Blue Grass, Pueblo and Anniston COVID-19 response fact sheets.

The PEO ACWA workforce and our contractor teams are continuing to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission in mind. While we remain committed to meeting the Dec. 31, 2023, deadline, we will not sacrifice the safety of the workforce, environment or community. As work at the plant goes on with additional safety protocols, we will continue to evaluate the situation with the health and safety of our employees and the local community at the forefront.

Please visit https://www.army.mil/coronavirus/ for additional information.

Chemical weapons destruction operations have continued in the U.S. throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while implementing new protocols to keep the workforce safe.

In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced fully vaccinated people could resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing in most situations. Following the CDC’s lead, PEO ACWA has lifted its mask mandate for those who are fully vaccinated.  However, PEO ACWA continues to institute numerous safety measures to reduce the risk to the workforce and communities near Richmond, Kentucky, and in Pueblo, Colorado. This includes:

• Those who are unvaccinated will continue to wear face coverings that cover the mouth and nose indoors and outdoors where social distancing is not possible. Those who are fully vaccinated will not be required to wear face coverings indoors or outdoors, except when complying with CDC guidance regarding where masks should be worn.
• Reduce the on-site workforce and implement teleworking where practical.
• Employ prudent social distancing techniques.
• Suspend public visits to the facilities.
• Institute employee health self-screening and provide onsite screening for the workforce.
• Provide community stakeholders with project updates through virtual meetings and operate the Chemical Stockpile Outreach Offices in accordance with recommended local health guidelines.
• Work with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process via electronic means.
• The Pueblo and Blue Grass plants continue to evaluate local conditions and have flexible plans in place to continue the mission safely.

For more information on the site-specific COVID-19 response, please visit the ACWA Headquarters, Blue Grass, Pueblo and Anniston COVID-19 response fact sheets.

The PEO ACWA workforce and our contractor teams are continuing to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission in mind. While we remain committed to meeting the Dec. 31, 2023, deadline, we will not sacrifice the safety of the workforce, environment or community. As work at the plant goes on with additional safety protocols, we will continue to evaluate the situation with the health and safety of our employees and the local community at the forefront.

Please visit https://www.army.mil/coronavirus/ for additional information.

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting each of us. The safety of our workforce and the public is paramount. Many of our team members continue operating the chemical weapons destruction facilities while taking additional safety precautions.

Our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide continual guidance throughout the pandemic to minimize risk to the workforce and the local community.

PEO ACWA continues to institute numerous safety measures to reduce the risk to the workforce and communities near Richmond, Kentucky, and in Pueblo, Colorado. This includes:

• Reduce the on-site workforce and implement teleworking where practical.
• Employ prudent social distancing techniques.
• Increase sanitation and janitorial services.
• Suspend public visits to the facilities.
• Institute employee health self-screening and provide onsite screening for the workforce.
• Require approved face coverings be worn.
• Provide community stakeholders with project updates through virtual meetings and operate the Chemical Stockpile Outreach Offices in accordance with recommended local health guidelines.
• Work with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process via electronic means.

The Pueblo and Blue Grass plants continue to evaluate local conditions and have flexible plans in place for work on site and telework when applicable.

For more information on the site-specific COVID-19 response, please visit the ACWA Headquarters, Blue Grass, Pueblo and Anniston COVID-19 response fact sheets.

The PEO ACWA workforce and our contractor teams are continuing to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission in mind. While we remain committed to meeting the Dec. 31, 2023, deadline, we will not sacrifice the safety of the workforce, environment or community. As work at the plant goes on with additional safety protocols, we will continue to evaluate the situation with the health and safety of our employees and the local community at the forefront.

Please visit https://www.army.mil/coronavirus/ for additional information.

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting each of us. The safety of our workforce and the public is paramount. Many of our team members continue operating the chemical weapons destruction facilities while taking additional safety precautions. Other team members continue to telework or remain on standby to support chemical weapons destruction in Kentucky and Colorado.

Our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided continual guidance throughout the pandemic to minimize risk to the workforce and the local community.

PEO ACWA continues to institute numerous safety measures to reduce the risk to the workforce and communities near Richmond, Kentucky, and in Pueblo, Colorado. This includes:

• Reduce the on-site workforce and implement teleworking where practical.
• Employ prudent social distancing techniques.
• Increase sanitation and janitorial services.
• Suspend public visits to the facilities.
• Institute employee health self-screening and provide onsite screening for the workforce.
• Require approved face coverings be worn.
• Provide community stakeholders with project updates through virtual meetings and operate the Chemical Stockpile Outreach Offices in accordance with recommended local health guidelines.
• Work with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process via electronic means.

The Pueblo and Blue Grass plants continue to evaluate local conditions and have flexible plans in place for work on site and telework when applicable.

The PEO ACWA workforce and our contractor teams are continuing to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission in mind. While we remain committed to meeting the Dec. 31, 2023, deadline, we will not sacrifice the safety of the workforce, environment or community. As work at the plant goes on with additional safety protocols, we will continue to evaluate the situation with the health and safety of our employees and the local community at the forefront.

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting each of us. The safety of our workforce and the public is paramount. While many of our team members have continued operating the chemical weapons destruction facilities while taking additional safety precautions, the following information explains how the remaining workforce is being phased back to the sites.

Our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided continual guidance throughout the pandemic to minimize risk to the workforce and the local community.

PEO ACWA instituted numerous safety measures to reduce the risk to the workforce and communities near Richmond, Kentucky, and in Pueblo, Colorado. This included:

• Reduced the on-site workforce and implemented teleworking where practical
• Employed prudent social distancing techniques
• Instituted increased sanitation and janitorial services
• Suspended public visits to the facilities
• Closed Outreach Offices, and instructed staff to work remotely
• Worked with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process via electronic means

In March, the CDC recommended continual chemical destruction operations, as past experience showed that an operating plant in a steady state condition created a higher-level safety climate than an idled plant. With a reduced number of workers at the site, agent destruction continued at the Blue Grass and Pueblo plants. PEO ACWA is working closely with state and local regulators in Colorado and Kentucky to phase employees back to the sites. The Pueblo and Blue Grass plants will phase back employees based on guidelines set by their respective state reopening schedule.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) has instituted a five-phase return to work plan for the workforce. This includes:

• Phase 1: Developed an online course for all employees to reinforce new COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.
• Phase 2: Shift workers returned to work on May 18.
• Phase 3: On May 26, part-time remote workers returned to the site two days per week, while managers and supervisors returned fully. On June 1, full-time remote workers returned to the site on a part-time basis.
• Phase 4: By June 15, a full return to work for the general population was instituted and the workforce will fully return to the site by June 29.
• Phase 5: At-risk employees will return to work. The expected return to work date is July 13, although this can change depending on the situation.

In the event local cases increase, all phases are easily reversible, and staff can return to teleworking.

The Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (BGCAPP) has also instituted a phased return to work plan for the workforce. This includes:

• Phase 1: Starting May 18 the first group of shift workers that were on standby returned to work. Each week thereafter a new group was brought on board. It took four weeks to get everyone back to a regular work status.
• Phase 2: Beginning June 1, employees that were teleworking began to return to work on staggered schedules.
• Phase 3: High-risk individuals will return to work accordingly. This is subject to change if adjustments need to be made for any reason.

In the event local cases increase, all phases are easily reversible, and staff can return to teleworking.

The Blue Grass and Pueblo Chemical Stockpile Outreach Offices will also be instituting a phased reopening in the coming weeks. For more information on the outreach office in your community, please visit the BGCAPP and PCAPP Public Involvement web pages. There you will find further information regarding the new guidelines for visiting the outreach offices.

Everyone at PEO ACWA and our contractor teams is continuing to do their best to react to the COVID-19 pandemic with the mission in mind. While we remain committed to meeting the Dec. 31, 2023, deadline, we will not sacrifice the safety of the workforce, environment or community. As the workforce is phased back to the sites, we will continue to evaluate the situation with the health and safety of our employees and the local community at the forefront. We will continue to keep you informed as circumstances continue to unfold.

COVID-19 MESSAGE FOR STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE BOARD AND KENTUCKY AND COLORADO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATIONS

Because we are taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously, and the safety of our workforce and the public is paramount, we are sharing information regarding how this is affecting the chemical stockpile destruction mission.

The Pueblo and Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plants are currently continuing to process munitions under our usual rigorous safety protocols, and as this changing environment with COVID-19 evolves, so does our planning to ensure we continue to adhere to those same rigorous protocols and operate in a safe manner. Our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who work closely with us on a daily basis, have been in frequent communication during this national emergency. The CDC recommends we continue chemical destruction operations at this time, as we know from past experience that an operating plant in a steady state condition creates a higher-level safety climate than an idled plant. They have reviewed our pandemic planning and offered helpful feedback on our processes, such as screening techniques for vendor deliveries.

We are screening our workforce in accordance with the most up-to-date CDC guidelines to ensure their health and to prevent the potential spread of the virus. We are evaluating current day-to-day operations of all of our employees and the plant, with planning that includes methodical procedures, if ultimately needed, for a safe, secure, and environmentally compliant temporary cessation of operations should that become necessary.

While we have reduced our on-site workforces to the extent possible through telework, we are employing prudent social distancing techniques and have instituted increased sanitation. Visits to the facilities by the public are suspended and all other outside interactions are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The Outreach Office staffs are working remotely until further notice, but will continue to keep the public informed via the usual online platforms. In addition, we are working with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process using electronic means.

We are taking additional CDC-recommended steps to further minimize risk to the workforce and the local communities. This includes securing munitions now being temporarily stored in the plants which are unsuitable for processing; reducing wastes and controlling the inventory of munitions; containing solid wastes, such as non-functional contaminated equipment, for long-term storage; and reducing liquid waste levels in storage tanks.

Many of the wastes we are preparing for shipment are items that we normally ship to permitted, off-site disposal facilities, and some are non-routine, such as hydrolysate, the wastewater product from the neutralization process. Reducing the level of liquid wastes currently in storage will help ensure environmental protection and aid in re-starting the facility if a cessation occurs.

Everyone at PEO ACWA and its contractor teams are doing the utmost to react to the COVID-19 pandemic and continue with the mission during a rapidly evolving situation. While things continue to change quickly, we are approaching the challenge with confidence. Our safety-focused approach will continue, and we encourage everyone to stay safe by following the COVID-19 CDC guidelines and directions from community officials.

We want you to know that, as with any other situation, the safety of our workforce, the local communities, and the environment will not be sacrificed. With our depot partners, medical staffs and other health professionals, we will continue to closely monitor the situation. In order to contain the spread of the virus, we are preparing to implement whatever means are necessary and will work with our state, federal and international partners to recover from this unprecedented situation. We will continue to keep you informed as circumstances continue to unfold.

DR. CHARLES J. BALL
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense,
Threat Reduction and Arms Control

MICHAEL S. ABAIE
Program Executive Officer,
Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives

Our partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who work closely with us on a daily basis, have been in frequent communication during this national emergency. While we have reduced our on-site workforces to the extent possible through telework, the CDC recommends we continue chemical destruction operations at this time, as we know from past experience that an operating plant in a steady state condition creates a higher-level safety climate than an idled plant. They have reviewed our pandemic planning and offered helpful feedback on our processes, such as screening techniques for vendor deliveries.

We are also taking additional CDC-recommended steps to further minimize risk to the workforce and the local communities. This includes:

• Securing munitions in temporary storage which are unsuitable for processing
• Reducing wastes and controlling the inventory of munitions
• Containing solid wastes, such as contaminated equipment, for long-term storage
• Reducing liquid waste levels in storage tanks

Many of the wastes we are preparing for shipment are items that we normally ship to permitted, off-site disposal facilities, and some are non-routine, such as hydrolysate, the wastewater product from the neutralization process. Reducing the level of liquid wastes currently in storage will help ensure environmental protection and aid in re-starting the facility if a cessation occurs.

Everyone at PEO ACWA and our contractor teams are doing our best to react to the COVID-19 pandemic and continue with the mission during a rapidly evolving situation. While things continue to change quickly, we are approaching the challenge with confidence. Our safety-focused approach will continue, and we encourage everyone to stay safe by following the COVID-19 CDC guidelines and directions from officials in your community.

Because we are taking the COVID-19 pandemic very seriously, and the safety of our workforce and the public is paramount, we are sharing information regarding how this is affecting our chemical stockpile destruction mission.

Our plant is continuing to process munitions under the same rigorous safety protocols while we examine ways in which we might continue to operate in a safe manner in this constantly changing environment. We have learned from historical experience that an operating plant with an engaged workforce performs at a significantly higher level than when the plant is idle and the workforce is in a static observation mode.

We are screening our workforce in accordance with the most up-to-date guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure their health and to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

We are evaluating current day-to-day operations of all of our employees and the plant, with planning that includes methodical procedures, if ultimately needed, for a safe, secure, and environmentally compliant temporary cessation of operations should that become necessary.

We are employing prudent social distancing techniques, including reducing our on-site workforce presence through telework where possible and have instituted increased sanitation techniques.

Visits to our facility by the public are suspended and all other outside interactions are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Our Outreach Office staff will be working remotely until further notice, but will continue to keep the public informed via our usual online platforms. In addition, we will work with state regulators to continue public participation in the permitting process using electronic means.

We want you to know that, as with any other situation, the safety of our workforce, the local communities, and the environment will not be sacrificed. With our depot partners, medical staffs and other health professionals, we will continue to closely monitor the situation. In order to contain the spread of the virus, we are preparing to implement whatever means are necessary and will work with our state, federal and international partners to recover from this unprecedented situation. We will continue to keep you informed as circumstances continue to unfold.