Largest US Nuke Plant On Lockdown

[BrucePrime]

PHOENIX (AP) - Security officials at the nation's largest nuclear power plant detained a contract worker with a small explosive device in the back of his pickup truck Friday, authorities said.

The worker was stopped and detained at the entrance of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, said U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Victor Dricks. Security officials then put the nuclear station on lockdown, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving the facility.

Authorities described the device as a small capped pipe that contained suspicious residue.

Capt. Paul Chagolla with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said sheriff's officials rendered the device safe and that investigators were interviewing the worker.

"Our Security personnel acted cautiously and appropriately, demonstrating that our security process and procedures work as designed," said Randy Edington, the chief nuclear officer for plant operator Arizona Public Service Co., in a statement.

The incident was considered an "unusual event"—the lowest of four emergencies the plant can declare, said Jim Melfi, an inspector with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

There was no threat to the public and the station was operating normally, said Palo Verde spokesman Jim McDonald.

Palo Verde, operated by Arizona Public Service Co., is the nation's largest nuclear power plant both in size and capacity. Located in Wintersburg about 50 miles west of downtown Phoenix, the plant supplies electricity to about 4 million customers in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and California.

SOURCE

Edited November 2, 2007 by BrucePrime

[Celumnaz]

potato gun?

[Unlimited]

potato gun?

it was a pipe...as long as the fear got spread that's the important part...

[Lord Umbarger]

You make a Potato Gun out of a pipe. Besides, it said "Suspicious residue". That could really be anything at this point. Maybe it was left over Halloween candy that melted? We just don't know from this story at this point. Then again, it was probably some idiot just testing the system for the real attack in a couple of months.

[stevewinn]

it was a pipe...as long as the fear got spread that's the important part...

Its not Bush spreading the fear its the 24 hour news/media rushing to get stories out before one another, thats why we end up with stories that leave us in a guessing game, we've all watched the 24 hour news channels, Breaking news and the news reader is all over the place because they havent got the full story, get rid of the 24 hour news channels and get back to detailed news reports,

Edited November 2, 2007 by stevewinn

[Unlimited]

Its not Bush spreading the fear its the 24 hour news/media rushing to get stories out before one another, ,

the 24 hour fear networks,,,,this is gonna end up being a guy with a roman candle or something..maybe a sparkler..

[Bob26003]

Quick, surrender your freedoms!

Or else the terrorists will win!

[Unlimited]

Quick, surrender your freedoms!

Or else the terrorists will win!

anyone hear what happened?...i say it was a guy with a pipe and thats it..maybe firecrackers?...

[The Silver Thong]

So they stopped a plumber that just finished cleaning/fixing the crapper and detained him for taking away a crapy pipe. Well that explains the suspicious residue, right........ anyone?..... anyone?

Edited November 3, 2007 by The Silver Thong

[Lt_Ripley]

Its not Bush spreading the fear its the 24 hour news/media rushing to get stories out before one another, thats why we end up with stories that leave us in a guessing game, we've all watched the 24 hour news channels, Breaking news and the news reader is all over the place because they havent got the full story, get rid of the 24 hour news channels and get back to detailed news reports,

It's not Bush spreading the fear ?

who said the words ' world war 3 ' ?

who , before the 04 election , had terror alerts going off left and right ? of course they stopped the minute the elections were over.

who said the words 'mushroom cloud '?

gee we could be here a good part of the night , but it's 9 pm - gotta go.

[The Silver Thong]

It's not Bush spreading the fear ?

who said the words ' world war 3 ' ?

who , before the 04 election , had terror alerts going off left and right ? of course they stopped the minute the elections were over.

who said the words 'mushroom cloud '?

gee we could be here a good part of the night , but it's 9 pm - gotta go.

Damn it's only 7 were I am, sleep tight and don't let the terrorists bite

EDIT:

can you believe that, I had to do an edit because I spelted BITE wrong lol

Edited November 3, 2007 by The Silver Thong

[Tiggs]

It seems to be turning into a non story - ABC have an "Official" update here.

[Unlimited]

just what I thought a nation thrown into fear over a six inch pipe bomb?...could have blown a hole in the truck?..maybe..

[Michelle]

Damn...ya'll need to get out more and meet some real people if you think that a little thing like that is going to throw us into fear.

[girty1600]

Sometimes the media disgusts me....

Edit; "Employee Found with Explosive Device ".... what?

Edited November 3, 2007 by girty1600

[Ins0mniac]

Sometimes the media disgusts me....

Edit; "Employee Found with Explosive Device ".... what?

Yeah. A pipe bomb.

Probably not a good idea to have people near nuclear facilities with explosives. Even if it is only a pipe bomb.

[ships-cat]

Oh well. At least it demonstrates that their security people where awake.

Meow Purr.