14 DAY TRIAL // Officials at the Fort Bliss Army Base in Texas have uncovered traces of radiation stemming from a remote location on the perimeter.
KFOX TV relays a statement by Fort Bliss public affairs officer, Maj. Joe Buccino, saying that the radioactive activity is probably coming from materials used as long ago as the 50s.
"It has come to our attention that the Air Force stored radioactive material during the 1950s and 1960s at a remote limited access building," the Major says.
A bunker in said building could be contaminated with uranium residue, which could have rubbed off on the rifles used on the base.
Some 100 rifles and automatic weapons are being tested for radioactivity. If the results are positive, the substances are likely to affect the health of soldiers and base camp staff.
30 people that have come into contact with the bunker have been tested for contamination, but the results are no yet in.
Mark Cauthers, Fort Bliss deputy garrison commander, says that the location has been closed down until further testing is performed.
"We're being cautious. Weapons aren't being utilized, and we’ll just lock the facility until we know more from the experts," said Cauthers.
"We don't know the scope of the issue, we don't know, again, if it's nothing or fairly substantial," he adds.
32,000 soldiers and 11,000 staff members are living on the Fort Bliss base. The bunker that is possibly contaminated was used for storage during the Cold War.
It belonged to the Air Force and it was handed over to the Army in 1966, without a mention to rags and residue that might still be inside. RT informed that the contents had originally been buried underground in sealed containers.
"It is important that we be guided by facts and not fear. [...] The safety and well-being of our servicemen and women is the top priority," comments Rep. Pete Gallego of the House Armed Services Committee.