Bechtel builds chemical destruction plant

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PUEBLO, Colo., Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A pilot facility to destroy U.S. Army chemical munitions has been built in Colorado by an operating unit of Bechtel.

The Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant, constructed by the Bechtel Pueblo Team, will eventually destroy 2,611 tons of mustard agent-filled munitions stored at a local Army depot.

Construction of the plant began in 2004 and involved installing more than $200 million worth of underground utilities, redundant electrical and control systems, titanium piping and storage systems.

"Construction completion marks the first step toward creating a safer community for the citizens of Pueblo," said BPT Project Manager Doug Omichinski. "Our main goal is not just to build and operate a plant, but to do it safely and to be environmentally compliant."

Bechtel said the plant is in the systemization phase of the chemical weapons destruction process and that more than 300 associated subsystems are being tested.

The facility is expected to be operational in 2015.