Texas Nuclear Plant on Lockdown

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Source: Fox News

DEVELOPING: A Texas nuclear plant is on lockdown, the Carson County Sheriff's Department said.

Several officers are at the Pantex Plant investigating.

The plant reportedly activated its Emergency Response Organization at 8 a.m. Friday in response to a possible security situation. Pantex employees have been moved to a safe location.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583111,00.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. "Move along. Nothing to see here." - The Nukesters (R)

[slutticus]

10. Knee jerk much?

[SpiralHawk]

13. "Move along. Nothing to see here." - The Jerksters (R)

[ensho]

2. thanks for the info - it hadn't reached RSOE when I was there a few

minutes ago.

I'm curious to see further reports.

[maddezmom]

3. headline has changed and things are fine: Texas Nuclear Plant Put on Lockdown Due to Nearby Hunters

:hi:

[Liberation Angel]

5. We better HOPE they are hunters and not terrorists

men/women with guns approaching a nuke plant?

Not good.

But it underscores why such plants are inherently stupid and dangerous.

They are vulnerable to saboatge which could harm or kill way too many people.

Like boxcutters on airplanes, nuke plants are inherently subject to serious attacks with little imagination and primitive tools like men/women with guns.

[Pavulon]

7. pantex is not a nuke plant. It assembles and maintains

thermonuclear weapons.

[Javaman]

9. Yes, it's a lovely place to vacation to.

They have quite a reputation here in Texas.

[stuart68]

11. what ?!?

you must be kidding ...

[Mopar151]

4. Full lockdown? For hunters?

This don't smell right.... Is the field even posted? Did any of these nook-yoo-lurr scientists think to go talk to the hunters before they went nuts?

[Pavulon]

8. That site is probably one of the most sensitive in the US

they have operational weapons, modern designs like the w88, and people who are very valuable. The hunters are very lucky they were not shot. I would assume there signs like these around the site.

[Selena Harris]

12. And WHAT were they...

"hunting",exactly? I would be curious as to how long this plant has been there, and is this the FIRST incident of "hunters" being on the property?

Is this facility not enclosed?

You got that right, this don't smell right,to me either.

[blogslut]

16. Pantex has been in West Texas for decades

Late 40's, early 50's, something like that. It's a not a "nuclear" facility per se. It is the final assembly/disassembly point for US nuclear weapons and yes, it is heavily guarded - it is a Pentagon facility. It is somewhat enclosed but is visible from the highway. The terrain of the area is flat and virtually devoid of trees. However, a number of private farms and ranches surround the plant and the hunters were probably on one of those private properties and got a wee bit too close to the fence.

I'm not worried. As much as I dislike what they do at Pantex, their security/surveillance system is top notch. The Peace Farm has been keepping an eye on the plant since the late seventies and as a former member, trust me, Pantex security is nothing to fuck with.

[Skink]

15. It was that one hunter with the really long beard they are worried about.

[Pavulon]

6. Pantex is not a power plant, much more critical

pantex is handles nuclear weapons and is part of their final assembly. They have access to and maintain operating nuclear weapons.

[DemoTex]

14. Pantex is located next to the Amarillo international airport.

Nukes are transported by train from Pantex to various arsenals, including the mega-arsenal at Pueblo, Colorado.