U.S. ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND
///// An empty non-chemical storage igloo (C903) at Pueblo Chemical Depot.
Pueblo Chemical Depot Pueblo, Colorado U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency
T
he U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD) located near Pueblo, Colo., is one of two Army installations in the United States that currently store chemical weapons. PCD stores a stockpile of chemical weapons comprising 7 percent of the nation’s original chemical materiel stockpile. Since 1942, the depot’s missions shifted and expanded, and today the depot’s mission is to ensure the safe, secure storage of the chemical weapons stockpile. Encompassing approximately 23,000 acres, PCD reports to the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency (CMA). The U.S. Army Element, Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives, known as ACWA, is the Department of Defense program responsible for the destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile stored at PCD. Working in partnership with the community, the technology known as neutralization followed by
biotreatment was selected in 2002 to destroy the Pueblo chemical weapons stockpile. The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP) is currently under construction near the storage site. PCD and PCAPP work closely with the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission (CAC), which serves as a forum for exchanging information about the project. The CAC offers opportunities for the public to get involved and represents community and state interests to the Army and the Department of Defense. Community and state emergency professionals work closely with the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program to develop emergency plans and provide chemical accident response equipment and warning systems for communities surrounding the stockpile in Pueblo.
87