Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant chemical agent original tonnage destroyed

Colorado Stockpile Destroyed

NEWS RELEASE

Colorado Stockpile Destroyed

PCAPP Stats at a Glance

Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP)

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.

Current Project Phase:

Closure

Chemical Agent Destroyed:

2,613.2 U.S. Tons

*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.

PCAPP stockpile

155mm Projectiles

105mm Projectiles

4.2-inch Mortar Rounds

PU 155mm

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.

PU 105mm

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.

PU 4-2in

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

Munition	Agent Type	Quantity	Destruction Technology
4.2-inch Mortar Round	HD	76,722	EDS/SDC*
4.2-inch Mortar Round	HT	20,384	EDS/SDC*
105mm Projectile	HD	383,418	EDS*/Neutralization Followed by Biotreatment
155mm Projectile	HD	299,554	EDS*/Neutralization Followed by Biotreatment
DOT Bottle	HD/HT	11***	EDS*
Total		780,078

* Explosive Destruction System
** Static Detonation Chamber
*** Department of Transportation (DOT) bottles are not included in the original declaration quantities, since they contain samples/waste from declared stockpile

Munition	Agent Type	Quantity	Destruction Technology
4.2-inch Mortar Round	HD	76,722	EDS/SDC*
4.2-inch Mortar Round	HT	20,384	EDS/SDC*
105mm Projectile	HD	383,418	EDS*/Neutralization Followed by Biotreatment
155mm Projectile	HD	299,554	EDS*/Neutralization Followed by Biotreatment
DOT Bottle	HD/HT	11***	EDS*
Total		780,078

* Explosive Destruction System ** Static Detonation Chamber
***Department of Transportation bottles are not included in the original declaration quantities, since they contain samples/waste from declared stockpile

155mm projectile
105mm projectile
4.2-inch mortar round
DOT bottle

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.

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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.

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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.

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Upcoming Meetings

Permitting Working Group and Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission Meetings will be held on Oct. 29, 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 Dec. 10, 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