U.S. Army Chemical Materials ActivityU.S. Army Chemical Materials ActivityU.S. Army Chemical Materials ActivityU.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity
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    •   STORE

      How we make sure the stockpiles are stored safely.

      U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot
      Blue Grass Chemical Activity
    •   DESTROY

      Do recovered munitions contain chemical agent? How we find out, and how we destroy them.

      Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate
    •   COMPLY

      How we help the United States comply with the Chemical Weapons Convention.

      Chemical Weapons Convention
    •   PROTECT

      How we protect the communities around chemical weapon stockpiles.

      Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program
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Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate

  • Response
  • Packaging
  • Assessment
  • RCWM Storage
  • Analysis
  • Project Planning
  • Destruction
  • Explosive Destruction System (EDS)
  • Waste Disposal
Home Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate
  • Overview
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  • Achievements

The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD) provides centralized management and direction to the Department of Defense (DoD) for the assessment and destruction of recovered chemical warfare materiel (RCWM) in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

In support of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which provides time limitations and international oversight of RCWM destruction, RCMD maintains destruction technology and personnel expertise to destroy RCWM around the country. Learn about the full range of RCMD’s capabilities by clicking on the links below.

View the RCMD Overview Fact Sheet
More on RCWM

​The U.S. Army Non-Stockpile Chemical Materiel Project (NSCMP) was created in 1992 to support the assessment and treatment of chemical warfare materiel that was not part of the nation’s chemical weapons stockpile. NSCMP’s expertise has transferred to the Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD), U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA). RCMD leads the nation in the development and utilization of advanced technology to treat recovered chemical warfare materiel.

RCMD leads the nation in the development and use of advanced technology to treat recovered chemical warfare materiel, while protecting the public, its workers and the environment. As of September 2015, RCMD had destroyed more than 2,237 items using the EDS, in a steadily growing record of safety and efficiency.

RCMD has performed more than 3,300 assessments in the United States.
RCMD destroyed more than 258,000 projectile bodies at Hawthorne Army Depot, NV.
RCMD destroyed more than 57,000 canister drums in Pine Bluff, AR.
RCMD decontaminated and destroyed, or recycled, 7,824 ton containers in MD, AR and UT.
RCMD destroyed 10 chemical weapons production facilities in five states.
RCMD destroyed 5,528 CAIS items using scans and RRS in 9 states.
RCMD has treated more than 2,600 items using EDS as of October 2016.

RCMD Director

Laurence G. Gottschalk
Director, Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate

Download Biography

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RCMD Capabilities

Mobile Munitions Assessment System (MMAS)

1. Response

Multiple Round Container (MRC)

2. Packaging

Digital Radiography and Computed Tomography System

3. Assessment

Interim Holding Facility

4. RCWM Storage

Materiel Assessment Review Board Logo

5. Analysis

Man standing at whiteboard

6. Project Planning

Explosive Destruction System (EDS)

7. Destruction

Waste Drums Processing

8. Waste Disposal

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U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity
Mountain

The mountain has been an element that has graced many of the past depot emblems, representing Pike’s Peak.

Missile

The Pershing Missile in the center represents one of the most prominent missions of the depot in the 1980s.

Hawk

The hawk represents native depot wildlife, the present and future mission of the environmental programs, and was also the name of one of the missile systems supplied by the depot during its missile mission in the 1950s and 60s.

Insignias

The branch insignia of both the U.S. Army Chemical Corps and Ordnance Corps represent the depot’s command structure through its history as both an ordnance and a chemical depot.

Colors & Text

The colors cobalt blue and yellow gold are representative of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. “Pueblo Depot” is representative of the installation throughout its history. “1942” is the date of establishment. “Safety” and “Service” capture the continued and historical depot missions.

Motto

The motto translates to “A Common Good.”

Sun

The rising sun denotes the dawning of a new day without chemical weapons and the organization’s mission to safely destroy chemical weapons stockpile, thus changing the future of modern warfare.

Wheat

The three stalks of wheat symbolize the harvest of hope that has been secured through industry, cultivation and abundance. It also refers to the unit’s chemical/biological, smoke/obscurant and support to Homeland security industrial base missions at Pine Bluff Arsenal.

Eagle

The double-headed eagle suggests the two CMA methods for stockpile chemical weapons disposal, incineration and neutralization. These methods’ roots are traced back to Project Eagle I (incinerating of mustard agents) and Eagle II (neutralizing nerve agents).

Olive Branch

The olive branch signifies peace and the Activity’s commitment to abide by the stipulations of the Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty and assisting other nations.

Octagon

The octagon alludes to the eight original chemical weapons stockpile storage sites in the United States.