Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper introduced the Promoting Utilization and Economic Benefits from Land Optimization (PUEBLO) Act, which will fully close the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo County, Colorado, and transfer the remaining parcel of land to the Pueblo community for economic redevelopment. 

“The Pueblo Chemical Depot has dutifully served our country for decades – and now, PuebloPlex is ready to play a new role in Pueblo’s continued growth and economic development,” said Bennet. This critical legislation will assist PuebloPlex and Southeast Colorado as they forge a path forward that provides certainty and opportunity for the community.”

“The Pueblo Chemical Depot is successfully completing its mission. A new future is on the horizon,” said Hickenlooper. “The redevelopment of the Pueblo Chemical Depot land will help Pueblo County expand its already growing economy and create even more jobs for Coloradans.”

The Pueblo Chemical Depot is one of two remaining military sites in the United States that stores chemical weapons originally manufactured during World War II. The U.S. Army is decommissioning all chemical weapons at these sites to fulfill American obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty. The stockpile at Pueblo Chemical Depot is on track to be fully destroyed this year. 

The PUEBLO Act would direct the Army to close the Pueblo Chemical Depot no later than one year after the completion of the chemical demilitarization mission using the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. This approach allows for the seamless transfer of Department of Defense land to a designated Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) to redevelop the land.

PuebloPlex has been formally designated as the LRA for this project. PuebloPlex is actively redeveloping 16,000 acres of former Pueblo Chemical Depot land previously transferred through the BRAC process for a variety of new purposes, including research and development facilities for the rail and transportation industry. The PUEBLO Act would hand over the remaining 7,000-acre parcel to PuebloPlex for further economic development. 

Bennet and Hickenlooper submitted language to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee to include the PUEBLO Act in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Colorado U.S. Representatives Lauren Boebert, Doug Lamborn, and Ken Buck introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.