Chemical Destruction Plant Eliminates 155mm Mustard Projectiles from Colorado Stockpile

Bechtel-Led Team Uses Innovative Approach to Destroy Chemical Weapons

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Sep 17, 2020, 11:22 ET

RESTON, Va., Sept. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) team announced the safe and efficient destruction of nearly 300,000 155mm chemical weapons projectiles stored at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado, marking the end of the plant's first munitions campaign.

A Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant ordnance technician prepares to transfer the final 155mm projectile for destruction on Sept. 5.

In 1997, a presidential directive and the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention – an international treaty to destroy chemical weapons – called upon all member nations to destroy their chemical weapons and production facilities. Bechtel leads the team contracted to help the United States complete its obligations under this treaty by safely destroying 2,611 tons of mustard agent inside munitions.

"Destruction of 155mm projectiles is a great accomplishment for the PCAPP team," said Ken Harrawood, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team. "Innovative solutions are key to solving issues that arise with a complex and one-of-a-kind operating facility like PCAPP. This would not have been possible without the dedication and professionalism of our amazing workforce."

Mustard agent destruction operations began in the Bechtel-constructed plant four years ago. More than 780,000 total munitions were in the original Colorado stockpile. The Bechtel-led team is scheduled to complete its mission of safely destroying all chemical weapons in the stockpile by 2023. The remaining two destruction campaigns include mustard-filled 105mm projectiles and 4.2-inch mortar rounds.

The 155mm projectiles destroyed at PCAPP were World War II-era munitions, which each contained approximately 12 pounds of mustard agent.

The team used first-of-its-kind technology to neutralize the mustard agent molecules with caustic and hot water. The process byproduct is a chemical compound called hydrolysate, a common industrial chemical that is readily biodegradable. A biotreatment process breaks down hydrolysate into salts, water and organics using living microbes.

Learn more about Bechtel's innovative two-step approach to safely and efficiently destroying mustard mutations at PCAPP.

PCAPP's next munitions campaign will be the destruction of 105mm projectiles, which each contain three pounds of mustard agent.

About Bechtel:

Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers' objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world's infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Bechtel serves the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.Bechtel.com

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SOURCE Bechtel