Nuclear Weapons Facility in Texas on Lockdown!

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 1-15-10 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration PANTEX Plant, the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility located 17 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas, is on lockdown, according to a news release from the facility, the text of which appears below:

[BobMcCartyWrites]

The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration PANTEX Plant, the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility located 17 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas, is on lockdown, according to a news release from the facility, the text of which appears below:

NEWS RELEASE

Pantex Activates Emergency Response Organization

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.

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.

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

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 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.

UPDATE #1 1/17/10 at 10:15 a.m. Central: I've learned that the facility is managed and operated by B&W Pantex and that the plant's mission, in addition to assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons, includes the following: maintenance, modification and evaluation of nuclear weapons; interim storage of plutonium pits from dismantled nuclear weapons; and fabrication of high explosive components for nuclear weapons. The PANTEX web site, http://www.pantex.com, was, at last check, down.

Developing...

[AtlasStalled]

Did the terrorists finally figure out that all they had to do to enter our country was walk across the U.S.-Mexico border?

[Flightdeck]

The assistant secretary of defense for WMD once told me that he toured a facility in iraq that looked like it had been built precisely to the Pantex blueprints. The only thing missing was the plutonium.

[Dogbert41]

It was hunters in a field nearby. Lockdown over.

[tatsinfla]

UPDATE #1 1/17/10 at 10:15 a.m. Central:

what is funny about the date above..??...is this a future event...??...if so can i have the winning lotto numbers for tomorrow nite...??

[BobMcCartyWrites]

What or who is your source?

[La Lydia]

The Amarillo paper has the story too, with today’s date. But if you get the Lotto numbers (or Mega Millions), will you share with me?

[FrdmLvr]

Panix at the Pantex.

[deport]

BOB get with the story...... False alert and you're late to the party.

Hunters out near the plant.....

Note Thread in Breaking News.............

Pantex [nuclear facility] on Lockdown (Panhandle, TX) [Update: false alarm.]

[tatsinfla]

absolutly....

[slumber1]

It was hunters in a field nearby. Lockdown over.

Was one of them Dick Cheney?

[BobMcCartyWrites]

deport, you’re just too sharp for me!

[deport]

deport, you’re just too sharp for me!

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LOL..... Bob I find it’s almost impossible to be first with any breaking news on FR. Too may people watching all various kinds of outlets. I know you were trying but heck someone had it up 30 minutes before you. Now you had a much better indepth range of info than was first put up. That in itself helps to put things in perspective after a while. Take care and keep plugging.