State Releases Letter that Closes Dyess Plane Crash Investigation
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: November 29, 2012
On November 4, 1958, a B-47 crashed near Highway 277, shortly after take-off from Dyess Airforce Base.
The plane was carrying a nuclear weapon that ignited on impact, causing radioactive chemicals to disperse.
Over half a century later a group of scientists visited the crash site to conduct extensive survey work.
According to Dr. Steven Rademacher, chief of radioactive materials at the Air Force Safety Center, the levels of those chemicals did not present a major problem.
However the Air Force wanted to stand by their commitment to environmental restoration.
"It was very important for us to be proactive to ensure that this site that occurred over 50 years ago met the most up-to-date, current standards and concerns of the public," says Dr. Rademacher.
In August of 2011, scientists completed an analysis of the soil samples they collected to verify the site met the requirement that was established in conjunction with the state and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.
Dr. Rademacher says, "A copy of our report was completed this spring and sent to the state of Texas and we did finally receive about three and a half weeks ago, a letter from the state of Texas."
That 21-page letter did confirm that the scientists and engineers did met their objective for cleaning the once-contaminated site.
"So it's approved for release for unrestricted use, even though at this point in time it is currently used for agricultural use; used for grazing animals at the site," Dr. Rademacher adds.
It may have initially opened a can of worms, but the lid on this case is finally closed.
The plane was carrying a nuclear weapon that ignited on impact, causing radioactive chemicals to disperse.
Over half a century later a group of scientists visited the crash site to conduct extensive survey work.
According to Dr. Steven Rademacher, chief of radioactive materials at the Air Force Safety Center, the levels of those chemicals did not present a major problem.
However the Air Force wanted to stand by their commitment to environmental restoration.
"It was very important for us to be proactive to ensure that this site that occurred over 50 years ago met the most up-to-date, current standards and concerns of the public," says Dr. Rademacher.
In August of 2011, scientists completed an analysis of the soil samples they collected to verify the site met the requirement that was established in conjunction with the state and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.
Dr. Rademacher says, "A copy of our report was completed this spring and sent to the state of Texas and we did finally receive about three and a half weeks ago, a letter from the state of Texas."
That 21-page letter did confirm that the scientists and engineers did met their objective for cleaning the once-contaminated site.
"So it's approved for release for unrestricted use, even though at this point in time it is currently used for agricultural use; used for grazing animals at the site," Dr. Rademacher adds.
It may have initially opened a can of worms, but the lid on this case is finally closed.
