The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant has destroyed more than half of the 155mm munitions at the Pueblo Chemical Depot, reducing the number of obsolete projectiles and destroying about one-third of the mustard agent stored by the U.S. Army in Colorado.

“We will continue moving forward in this campaign, safely destroying the mustard agent and munitions with a goal of finishing the 155mm campaign next year,” said Walton Levi, site project manager. “After that the plant will process 105mm projectiles in the second campaign.”

The Pueblo plant has reconfigured 105mm projectiles for destruction and is preparing to destroy 4.2-inch mortar rounds and any problematic 155mm and 105mm munitions in three Static Detonation Chambers under construction. All the munitions contain mustard blister agent, which the main plant was designed to destroy using chemical neutralization followed by biotreatment.

“This is a significant accomplishment,” said Ken Harrawood, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team. “Our commitment to rid the world of chemical weapons is evident in our ability to work through engineering challenges to safely and successfully operate a first-of-a-kind plant to destroy the stockpile at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot.”

The weapons have been stored at the depot since the 1950s.

“To reach this milestone has taken an incredible team effort between the depot and plant employees,” said Col. Michael Cobb, depot commander.

When all the 155mm projectiles are destroyed, two-thirds of the total agent in Colorado’s stockpile will be gone, destroyed under treaty obligations and verified by international inspectors, Levi said.