The U.S. Department of Defense has selected the Bechtel/Parsons/Washington Group to design, build and operate a chemical agent destruction plant in Pueblo, CO.

The first phase is to develop a design/build plan for the facility, which will be used to neutralize and biodegrade the Pueblo chemical weapons stockpile, consisting of about 800,000 mustard agent-filled cartridges and projectiles.

Plans for the next 10 years call for construction, systemization, pilot testing operation, then closure of the facility. Parsons will use technology it developed to design the facility, and fabricate equipment to be used there.

According to the defense department, highly skilled workers and robotic systems will be used to safely neutralize the stockpile.

"The Pueblo project provides Parsons with the opportunity to continue our support of the national priority to dispose of the world's stockpile of chemical weapons," said Jack Scott, president of the Infrastructure and Technology Group at Parsons.

For more information, call or visit www.parsons.com.