U.S. Helicopters Over Bay Area Scanning for Radiation
August 29th, 2012You know, “Natural radiation levels,” *wink*
Via: Contra Costa Times:
Helicopters will be flying low over San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Pacifica through Saturday to record natural radiation levels, federal authorities said Monday.
The flyovers are part of research by two federal security agencies to set baselines for radioactivity in the event of a nuclear accident or terrorism.
The helicopters will fly a grid pattern about 300 feet above the ground, covering about 70 square miles for the Department of Homeland Security and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
The Bay Area scans will include the areas near the Oakland-Berkeley border, along the coast in Pacifica and several areas in San Francisco.
The project will help local, state and federal authorities’ measure radiation, according to an announcement by the Nuclear Security agency. It has had similar flights around the country in recent months, including in Baltimore.
Posted by Wolf Richter, a resident of the Bay Area and regular contributor to ZH posted this earlier today about the radioactive contamination on Treasure Island, the naval base in SF Bay:
http://www.testosteronepit.com/home/2012/8/28/radioactive-contamination-on-san-franciscos-treasure-island.html
And, of course, this doesn’t account for the Fukushima factor, nor the distinct probability the government already had baselines in place that have subsequently failed.
Note in the article by Wolf too, the political infighting between agencies for control over determining radiation issues.