Texas DPS Recovers Buried Radioactive Cesium Source During Routine Patrol in Midland County
MIDLAND COUNTY, Texas – A routine patrol by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper trained in radiological threat detection led to the discovery and safe recovery of a buried radioactive source that had been hidden underground for decades, officials announced.
The recovery operation began on July 24 when a DPS corporal assigned to the Radiological/Nuclear Threat Detection (Rad/Nuc) Unit received an alarm from his vehicle-mounted radiation detection system while patrolling near South County Road 1210 in Midland County.
Using additional radiation detection equipment, the corporal conducted a systematic survey and determined that a Cesium-137 (Cs-137) radioactive source was emitting radiation from beneath the ground.
After confirming the source, DPS requested assistance from multiple local, state and federal agencies to safely recover the material.
On July 25, personnel from the DPS Rad/Nuc Unit, the FBI, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Midland Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team, the Midland Health Department, Midland Emergency Management and Chevron security coordinated the recovery operation.
Officials established designated hot and cold zones, continuously monitored radiation levels and rotated personnel throughout the excavation to ensure all safety protocols were followed.
Investigators ultimately located the radioactive source approximately 6 to 8 inches below the surface.
The recovered item was identified as a sealed 100-millicurie Cesium-137 radioactive source manufactured in April 1967.
After documenting the source and verifying radiation readings, crews safely recovered it without incident.
Officials said there were no injuries, no personnel contamination and no threat to the public.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the operation highlights the specialized capabilities of its Radiological/Nuclear Threat Detection Unit, whose mission is to detect and recover radiological and nuclear materials that fall outside regulatory control before they can be used in criminal or terrorist attacks.
The specialized unit uses vehicle-mounted radiation detectors, backpack detection systems, radioisotope identification devices, personal radiation detectors and drone-mounted radiation detection technology. DPS is also equipping every state trooper with a personal radiation detector and providing training to identify potential radiological and nuclear threats across Texas.
