Concerns Emerge Over Barrel Marked ‘Radioactive Material’ Found After Flooding in Asheville

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Concerns Over Flooded Barrel in Asheville

Earlier this week, a photo circulating on social media caused quite a stir among residents in Asheville, North Carolina. The image depicted a black barrel marked with a label indicating the presence of “radioactive material”. As you can imagine, this sparked some alarming questions and curiosity from folks online.

The Origin of the Barrel

The barrel in question was adorned with labels reading “B&W Y-12, LLC” and pointing to Oak Ridge, TN. This raised eyebrows as it led many to speculate if it had indeed drifted down from the Y-12 National Security Complex, a facility known for processing uranium. The photo made its rounds on Reddit through the r/Radiation subreddit, where claims were made that it had come from the French Broad River in Asheville after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on the region.

No Radioactive Threat After All

However, it turns out there was no need for alarm. A company responsible for storing similar barrels assured that these containers were “empty and clean”. They noted that the flooding in nearby Erwin, Tennessee, had caused some of their old barrels to be swept away. Upon checking, it was confirmed that while the image of the barrel was authentic, it was one of those used previously for storing hazardous fissile materials at Y-12.

Interestingly, a little research revealed that Y-12 is no longer managed by Babcock & Wilcox, which is what “B&W” refers to on the barrel. Their contract ended about a decade ago, and since then, Consolidated Nuclear Security has been in charge of the facility.

Flooding Complications

The barrels found their way to a company called Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., in Erwin, which is now under the ownership of BWX Technologies. This company previously was part of B&W before it spun off its power generation business back in 2015. Nuclear Fuel Services released a statement confirming that their offsite warehouse suffered significant damage due to flooding from Hurricane Helene. As a result, some of their containers were unfortunately lost in the floodwaters.

In a statement, they clarified, “An NFS offsite warehouse was heavily damaged, resulting in some NFS property being carried away by floodwater. These items include empty and clean containers, training equipment, and new personal protective equipment.” They further explained that while some containers might carry markings indicating “fissile radioactive material,” they were indeed empty and had been cleaned prior to the flood.

How Did It End Up in Asheville?

Now, one crucial question remains: If the barrel’s photograph was indeed taken in Asheville, how could it have ended up there? The floods that significantly impacted Erwin were primarily fed by the Nolichucky River, which flows away from Asheville. It winds through the state and contributes to Douglas Lake, while the French Broad River flows north into Tennessee from North Carolina. Given this geography, it seems highly unlikely that the barrel could have floated upstream against the river’s flow into Asheville.

Local Officials Weigh In

Taz Painter, a spokesperson for Y-12, confirmed their awareness regarding the empty barrels found in the flood debris. “We are aware that unused, empty drums were found in flood debris in Unicoi County,” he stated, further verifying the implications that the photograph likely originated from that region instead of Asheville.

Staying Informed and Alert

This entire episode serves as a reminder of how easily misinformation can spread online, especially after natural disasters. While it’s reassuring to know that the barrel posed no real threat, it’s always wise to approach alarming news with a bit of skepticism and seek out the facts.

For ongoing updates, make sure to stay connected with local news platforms that prioritize bringing you reliable information. And remember, being aware is key!