Army leaders at Fort Bliss say radiation has been detected at a former nuclear weapons bunker and that they’re investigating exposure to people on the West Texas post. Military officials said Tuesday that contaminated residue was buried in the 1950s and 1960s, when the post was operated by the Air Force.
A man who worked there at the time contacted officials earlier this year expressing concern should additional housing be built on the sprawling post. Post leaders launched an investigation and found levels of radiation in a bunker at Biggs Army Airfield. The bunker and others nearby are used to store rifles and other weaponry.
About 30 people have been working in the bunker taking inventory and conducting other tasks. They’re being tested to determine whether they’ve been exposed.