June 26 Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission Meeting (2024)

This is the June 26 Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens’ Advisory Commission online meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss topics related to the destruction of the former chemical weapons stockpile at the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD), completed June 22, 2023, as well as the closure of the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP). Highlights from the meeting are listed below.
Meeting highlights are outlined below:
• At approximately 0:23, the meeting is called to order by Irene Kornelly, chair, CAC. The agenda is approved as presented. Minutes from the April 24, 2024, meeting are approved.
• At approximately 1:48, Tamika Atkins, acting program executive officer, ACWA, expresses her regrets about not being able to attend the recent visit to the PCAPP site for the In Progress Review (IPR), but shares that Kingston Reif, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction and Arms Control, was pleased with the closure progress he witnessed and the overall discussion with stakeholders. She notes that work on filling the permanent program executive officer position continues and that Troy Workman, director of business operations, PEO ACWA, has taken on a second role as deputy program executive officer and will attend the August meeting.
• At approximately 5:30, Col. Rodney McCutcheon, commander, PCD, discusses the pending approval of the reduction in force, which will result in 31 separation notices. He also shares information about submission of the Notice of Deficiency response to CDPHE and upcoming community activities, including an Organization Day in August and the Sept. 12 deactivation ceremony.
• At approximately 10:15, Russell DeSalvo, president and chief executive officer, PuebloPlex, gives an update on progress on various real estate transactions. Laura Stalford, program manager, PuebloPlex, shares updates on the Pueblo Area Defense Diversification Act grant, workforce transition and community outreach activities, including the recent PCAPP job fair.
• At approximately 18:38, Julianna Mahr, Hazardous Waste Permitting Unit leader, CDPHE, reports on recent permit modifications, weekly site inspections and movement on the Static Detonation Chamber (SDC) closure plan. She states that review of the SDC plan will be concurrent with PCD closure plan and PCD draft permit renewal.
• At approximately 23:40, Ken Griffin, citizen member, CAC, asks how often CDPHE representatives visit the plant and for what duration.
• At approximately 24:45, Velma Campbell, citizen member, CAC, and Griffin express appreciation to the CDPHE representatives for the hard work on the permitting process.
• At approximately 25:55, Walton Levi, site project manager, PCAPP, describes progress on recent closure activities and shares photographs illustrating shutdown of the Biotreatment Area (BTA) on June 20.
• At approximately 32:22, Levi discusses the BTA scorecard and post-operations processing.
• At approximately 34:20, Todd Ailes, project manager, Bechtel Pueblo Team, describes shutdown of the industrial operations boilers and installation of smaller temporary boilers for cost savings, plant heat and remaining decontamination needs.
• At approximately 35:55, Levi shares information on closure waste and shipping as well as recent planning meetings with representatives from Redstone Arsenal, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Chemical Biological Application & Risk Reduction on the future disassembly and transport of the SDC units for reuse.
• At approximately 41:10, Ailes reports on staffing numbers and workforce transition activities. In response to a recent request by Kornelly, he notes that of the 75 individuals recently downsized, about 15% reported getting local jobs versus retirement or accepting positions with other contractor projects.
• At approximately 42:37, Levi lists visitors to the plant in June, including representatives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the annual laboratory and monitoring review and corporate leadership for the IPR.
• At approximately 47:09, John Norton, citizen member, CAC, asks DeSalvo about the use and marketability of Module 4 in the BTA. Griffin asks whether monitoring still is occurring outside the fenced area at the plant.
• At approximately 49:05, Kornelly reminds the group that the next meeting is Aug. 28 at 3 p.m. MT.
PCAPP is a state-of-the-art facility that safely completed destruction of the chemical weapons stockpile at PCD in Pueblo, Colorado, June 22, 2023. For more project information and news, visit the PCAPP homepage on the PEO ACWA website: www.peoacwa.army.mil/pcapp
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