PCAPP safely destroyed a stockpile of chemical weapons previously stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot, now known as the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity-West, or CMA-West, in Colorado.
*Information as of 22 June 2023
The U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot originally stored 2,613.2 U.S. 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 was a World War II-type munition. Both the M104 and M110 projectiles contained approximately 12 lbs. of blister (mustard) agent. Colored bands, signifying the chemical agent contained in the munition, marked the outside of the projectile casings. The shell contained an adapter and burster casing that screwed 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 was a World War II-type munition. The projectile contained approximately 3 lbs. of blister (mustard) agent. Colored bands, signifying the chemical agent within the munition, marked the outside of the projectile casings. The shell contained an adapter and booster casing that screwed 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
CAMPAIGN COMPLETED: JUNE 16, 2023
The 4.2-inch mortar round, produced in the United States, consisted of a one-piece forged steel-case projectile body with fuze, burster and tail assembly. Each munition contained approximately 6 lbs. of agent that was sealed inside with a steel burster well. The shell contained a perforated vane assembly welded to the inside of the body, designed to accommodate the burster tube extending from the fuze. The tail assembly consisted of a pressure plate and rotating disk, propelling charge, cartridge container, ignition cartridge and striker nut assembly.
Original Pueblo Stockpile
2,613
U.S. Tons of Mustard Agent
Chemical Weapons Destruction Technologies
MAIN PLANT
START DATE: SEPT. 7, 2016
END DATE: JUNE 16, 2023
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
END DATE: JUNE 22, 2023
Static Detonation Chamber
The Static Detonation Chamber supported the chemical weapons destruction progress at the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant. Three SDC units augmented the main plant by eliminating some 4.2-inch mortar rounds and overpacked problematic munitions.
Upcoming Meetings
-
Permitting Working Group and Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on April 30, 2025, at 3 p.m. MT.
Online platform: Zoom
Phone: 1 (719) 359-4580 Meeting ID: 84351934182#For information, please contact the Pueblo Chemical Stockpile Outreach staff at (520) 687-1713 or pueblooutreach@iem.com
-
Permitting Working Group and Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on June 25, 2025, at 3 p.m. MT.
Online platform: Zoom
Phone: 1 (719) 359-4580 Meeting ID: 84351934182#For information, please contact the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant outreach staff at (520) 687-1713 or pueblooutreach@iem.com
-
Permitting Working Group and Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on Aug. 27, 2025, at 3 p.m. MT.
Online platform: Zoom
Phone: 1 (719) 359-4580 Meeting ID: 84351934182#For information, please contact the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant outreach staff at (520) 687‑1713, or pueblooutreach@iem.com
“Closure is sad, but rewarding, no matter the location. It’s exciting to close the plant, but sad to see the facility and your colleagues go.”
“It’s good to work with people with experience from sites across the nation.”
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.”
“We destroyed the stockpile at Anniston and shared our expertise with other demil sites.”
“I have found great joy in being a part of history, something that is larger than myself. . . I will share this historic experience with my grandchildren, recounting how I and so many others played a role in making the world a better place.”
“We kept our promise to destroy
the chemical weapons, despite the challenges we faced along the way.”
“After 32 years in chem demil, I am amazed to finally see it all coming to an end. Even though we have eliminated all the chemical weapons, there is still so much to do in order to return the PCAPP site back into what it was before we started.”
“The vision was created and articulated, and we passionately owned the vision and relentlessly drove it to completion.”