Lockdown At Department Of Energy Nuclear Site Ends, No Explosives Found

The Savannah River nuclear facility in Aiken County, S.C. was put on a three-hour lockdown Monday, after canine and electronic scans found “a possibility of explosive residue” on a delivery truck.

Unnamed sources told local news station WJBF that at least one dog had alerted on a vehicle at the Department of Energy facility. Bomb detecting units were brought in, and no employees were allowed to exit or enter the facility during the lockdown, the station reported.

Officials gave the “all clear” at 5:52 p.m. Monday, after an off-site law enforcement investigation found no explosive materials.

A news release posted to the site’s verified Facebook page Monday said the alert was declared after electronic and canine scans of a vendor delivery truck indicated “a possibility of explosive residue” on the truck. Law enforcement from South Carolina and Georgia are now on site to assist the site’s security contractor, according to the release.

The issue is reportedly in the site’s H Canyon – the only chemical separations facility still operating in the country – where enriched uranium and plutonium are processed.

An earlier statement only said that “a potential security event” triggered the emergency response.

This post has been updated.