Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant
On June 22, 2023, the last munition in the stockpile of chemical weapons in Colorado, an overpacked 155 mm projectile containing mustard agent, was destroyed using a Static Detonation Chamber.
PCAPP used neutralization followed by biotreatment to destroy the majority of the stockpile, and Static Detonation Chamber technology to augment the main plant.
The plant will conduct closure activities (shutdown, dismantling, and restoration of site) for three to four years past conclusion of destruction operations.
In 2010, the Pueblo Chemical Depot, in conjunction with the ACWA program, completed an environmental assessment (EA) to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, and Title 32 Code of Federal Regulations Part 651 regarding the construction and operation of the U.S. Army's Explosive Destruction System (EDS) and/or other explosive destruction technologies (EDT), at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado.
In Spring 2018, the decision was made to end EDS and utilize three Static Detonation Chamber units to augment the main plant.
[46] The PCAPP EDS started destruction on March 18, 2015, with the elimination of Department of Transportation (DOT) bottles which contained chemical agent drained from selected munitions over the years to assess the condition of the stockpile.
The PCAPP EDS completed its first campaign in February 2016, destroying 549 munitions that leaked or were sampled in the past and 11 bottles containing mustard agent.
Due to performance issues identified during the first year of pilot testing, and in order to complete destruction of the stockpile by 2023, this technology was chosen to augment the main plant under a proposal by the ACWA program.
The staff responds to inquiries, provides information materials, coordinates guest speakers for a variety of different civic groups and organizations and interfaces with the governor-appointed Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission.
The project's environmental permitting information is available for review during regular business hours at: · Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004 · McHarg Community Center, 405 Second Lane, Avondale, CO 81022 · Boone Community Center, 421 E. First St., Boone, CO 81025 Additional information is also available on the following websites: This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Army
