The U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot originally stored more than 2,600 tons of the blister agent mustard in projectiles and mortar rounds.
155mm Projectiles
CAMPAIGN INITIATED: SEPT. 7, 2016
CAMPAIGN COMPLETED: SEPT. 5, 2020
The 155mm projectile is a World War II-type munition. Both the M104 and M110 projectiles contain approximately 12 lbs. of blister (mustard) agent. Colored bands, signifying the chemical agent contained in the munition, mark the outside of the projectile casings. The shell contains an adapter and burster casing that screw into the nose of the shell, also allowing a fuze to be screwed into the nose of the projectile.
105mm Projectiles
CAMPAIGN INITIATED: DEC. 11, 2020
CAMPAIGN COMPLETED: JULY 20, 2022
The 105mm projectile is a World War II-type munition. The projectile contains approximately 3 lbs. of blister (mustard) agent. Colored bands, signifying the chemical agent within the munition, mark the outside of the projectile casings. The shell contains an adapter and booster casing that screw into the nose of the shell, allowing a fuze to be screwed into the nose of the projectile.
4.2-inch Mortar Rounds
CAMPAIGN INITIATED: FEB. 19, 2022
The 4.2-inch mortar round, produced in the United States, consists of a one-piece forged steel-case projectile body with fuze, burster and tail assembly. Each munition contains approximately 6 lbs. of agent that is sealed inside with a steel burster well. The shell contains a perforated vane assembly welded to the inside of the body, designed to accommodate the burster tube extending from the fuze. The tail assembly consists of a pressure plate and rotating disk, propelling charge, cartridge container, ignition cartridge and striker nut assembly.
PCAPP is safely destroying a stockpile of chemical weapons currently in storage at the Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.
*Information as of 26 May 2023
Chemical Weapons Destruction Technologies
MAIN PLANT
START DATE: SEPT. 7, 2016
STATUS: OPERATIONAL
Neutralization Followed by Biotreatment
The Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives program, the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot and the community worked together to select neutralization followed by biotreatment to destroy the chemical weapons stored at the depot.
EXPLOSIVE DESTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
START DATE: MARCH 18, 2015
END DATE: DEC. 5, 2018
Explosive Destruction System
The Explosive Destruction System, or EDS, augmented the pilot plant to destroy a number of problematic munitions that could not be easily destroyed by the main plant’s automated equipment. During two campaigns from March 2015 to December 2018, the EDS eliminated 951 items resulting in 3.82 tons of mustard agent destroyed.
STATIC DETONATION CHAMBER
START DATE: FEB. 19, 2022
STATUS: OPERATIONAL
Static Detonation Chamber
Static Detonation Chamber units are part of the chemical weapons destruction progress at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Three SDC units are augmenting the main plant by eliminating 4.2-inch mortar rounds and overpacked problematic munitions.
Upcoming Meetings
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Permitting Working Group, Biotreatment Utilization Group and Colorado Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on June 28, 2023, at 3 p.m. MDT.
Computer: Zoom
Phone: 1 (669) 444 9171 Meeting ID: 844 3279 1550#For information, please contact the Pueblo Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (719) 546‑0400, or pueblooutreach@iem.com
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Permitting Working Group, Biotreatment Utilization Group and Colorado Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on July 26, 2023, at 3 p.m. MDT.
Computer: Zoom
Phone: 1 (669) 444 9171 Meeting ID: 844 3279 1550#For information, please contact the Pueblo Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (719) 546‑0400, or pueblooutreach@iem.com
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Permitting Working Group, Biotreatment Utilization Group and Colorado Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on Sept. 27, 2023, at 3 p.m. MDT.
Computer: Zoom
Phone: 1 (669) 444 9171 Meeting ID: 844 3279 1550#For information, please contact the Pueblo Chemical Stockpile Outreach Office at (719) 546‑0400, or pueblooutreach@iem.com
Recent PCAPP Videos
“I enjoy the community we have within PCAPP as well as the opportunity to rid the world of chemical weapons.”
“The people I work with make my job pleasant. We handle business in a serious fashion, but we enjoy each other’s company.”
“There is a long history behind these munitions, and they’ve been stockpiled for generations. Now we get to play a part in ridding the world of them.”
“It’s never hard to come in to work because I have good people around me.”
Smart Slider 3 is the best slider that i’ve tried so far. There’s so many useful functions and easy to understand how to use it.
“It’s nice to be part of a project and to have a job and a role and responsibility to see a job finished, to see us get rid of all these weapons.”