Bechtel-owned pilot plant successfully processes chemical weapons

Bechtel, a global engineering, construction and project management company, applauded efforts by the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant on Thursday to successfully process chemical weapons previously held in the U.S. chemical stockpile.

The pilot plant was built by and operated under the Department of Defense’s Program Executive Office for Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives.

“Destruction of the U.S. chemical stockpile makes the world safer and helps rid the nation of materials that have been awaiting destruction for decades,” Barbara Rusinko, president of Bechtel’s nuclear, security and environmental business, said. “Our colleagues in Colorado have been key to the continued success of this mission.”

After pilot testing concludes, full operations in the Pueblo plant will begin. The pilot phase will incrementally introduce more agent-filled projectiles to the plant. In total, approximately 2,600 tons of mustard agent are stored in munitions located in bunkers at the U.S. Army Chemical Depot.

“Introducing mustard agent into the facility brings us that much closer to a world without chemical weapons,” Rick Holmes, project manager for Bechtel, said. “We could not have reached this important milestone without the dedication of our teammates and their personal commitment to the mission.”

The Pueblo plant is the first of two remaining chemical agent destruction facilities in the United States to enter operations.