AMARILLO, TEXAS -- UPDATE:  The lock down is being blamed on two goose hunters who got a little too close for comfort to the nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly plant.

Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry, said some employees spotted two armed men about two miles south of the Pantex site, as they headed to work that morning.

Plant officials then called Terry's office around 7:45 a.m., and asked for an investigation.

Terry said the hunters turned out to be Department of Energy employees at the plant. Both were found to be hunting legally in the area, and were not on plant property.

"We will always err on the side of conservatism. Thankfully, there is no...we have found nothing to be concerned with the plant. At all times plant operations were safe and stable," said Steve Erhart, Pantex Emergency Oversight Manager.

Previosuly Posted:

The Pantex Plant, located in the Texas Panhandle, has been placed on lockdown.  Below is the official release from the plant.

NEWS RELEASE

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.

Background Information

The U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration Pantex Plant is the nation’s only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility.  Located about 17 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas, the facility is managed and operated by B&W Pantex. Pantex’s missions include assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons; 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. More information about Pantex is available on the web at www.pantex.com.