Pueblo leaders celebrate destroying chemical weapons stockpile
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO)-- The Pueblo Chemical-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) has completed the 105mm projectile destruction campaign to destroy chemical weapons from the World War II era.
According to officials with the PCAPP, the campaign was designed to destroy the chemical weapons stockpile made of 105mm projectiles used during the World War II era at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot. Those were the last to be destroyed.
The 105mm projectiles were destroyed in the main plant at the PCAPP using a process called neutralization. The PCAPP told KRDO that each 105mm projectile contained approximately 3 pounds of a chemical blistering agent known as mustard. According to the PCAPP, 383,000 105mm projectiles were destroyed after the completion of this campaign.
According to the PCAPP, they took the following steps to neutralize the weapons.
- Removal of energetics
- Removal of mustard agent
- Neutralization of mustard agent
- Biotreatreatment
- Thermal Treatment/Disposing of Metal Parts
The campaign started on Dec. 11, 2020, and ended on Jul. 20, 2022.
Michal Abaie, the program executive officer, thanked the workforce for conducting this mission safely.
According to The President and CEO of Pueblo Plex, Pueblo Plex is the local redevelopment authority for the U.S. Army Chemical Depot. A redevelopment plan is currently being implemented.
"The PCCAP facility that we have celebrated today is the second traunch of this transform from the United States Government to the community. We are working with the aqua team and the state of Colorado and the United States Army to determine which portion of the plant is safe for re-use and economic development purposes," said President and CEO of Pueblo Plex, Russell Desalvo.
The last stockpile of chemical weapons, 4.2.-inch Mortar Rounds are currently being destroyed in three Static Detonation Chamber Units. This campaign is the last one to be completed in Pueblo.
Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar said he thinks this project is great for the city and the world.
"A lot of people have come to Pueblo to work on this process. They're educated people, intelligent people hoping a lot of them will choose to stay in the community once this project is done," said Nick Gradisar.
Gradisar said this project has also created between 1,200 and 1,500 jobs.
