January 15, 2010

Nuke Weapons Plant on Lockdown, Security Breach (UPDATE: Hunters)

Could be big, could be nothing. The first time I read this I assumed it was a nuclear power plant. It's not. It's a nuclear weapons plant.

In fact, it's our only nuclear weapons assembly plant in the country.

It's at Pantex's Amarillo facility. As of this writing, their website has gone offline.

Here's the press release from Pantex:

Pantex Activates Emergency Response Organization

1. The Plant is in a lockdown status and the situation is being evaluated in order to facilitate security actions. Pantex employees are sheltered-in-place.

2. Pantex’s response effort is being conducted by the Emergency Response Organization, a highly trained group of employees with detailed knowledge of plant operations and emergency response procedures. These employees represent plant functions such as security, logistics, safety, medical response, radiological assessment, firefighting, operations and public information.

3. The emergency responders’ top priorities are the safety of the public, workers and the environment, as well as ensuring security is maintained.

4. Pantex is also in the process of establishing communication links with various local, state and federal government agencies that will work with Pantex and communicate with the public during the response to this event.

Public Information

Public information for this event is currently being coordinated by the Pantex Public Affairs Organization, which will release additional information as it becomes available. Public Affairs will notify the media regarding scheduling interviews and/or news conferences.

Thanks to Doda McCheesle. Developing.......

Any one who hears any updates on this, do me a favor and either email or drop it into the comments.

UPDATE: False alarm. Fox News reporting that two men were spotted with rifles near the plant. They were hunters. Who hunts next to a nuclear arms factory? What, they were after a three eyed Mule Deer?

Of all the dumb moves to make. Hey, let's take our high powered rifles to that there field across the street from that there nukular place!

Artist rendition of the perpetrator.

Also, how much of a security buffer does Pantex have around the plant? Is the surrounding property private?

I'm glad that security seems to have worked in this case, but one has to wonder if maybe there shouldn't be some more thought on how security at this plant and at the dozens of other nuclear sites is handled. I'm just not sure I like the idea of these facilities being anywhere near accessible for miles around.

Thanks to Son of Liberty.

Final Update (I hope): Here's the final word on this from a local paper (thanks to Bodacious):

Terry said his office responded to a call about 7:30 this morning of armed gunmen in the vicinity of the Pantex Plant and located two men who were hunting geese on Farm-to-Market Road 2373.

Terry said deputies located the men, who he said were off-duty plant employees who had pulled off the road about two miles south of Pantex on FM 2373. The men were questioned and officers determined they were not doing anything illegal.

Case closed.