Letter to the Hon. Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy - Where is the Missing Nuclear Material?

Letter

Dear Secretary Perry:

I am deeply concerned with reports of the March 21, 2017 incident in San Antonio in which two Department of Energy employees lost radioactive material. Reports indicate the material unaccounted for (MUF) includes radioactive samples of plutonium and cesium posing serious U.S. national security and health risks to my district, Texas and our nation.

As a representative of San Antonio, I am seeking all information pertaining the ongoing efforts to locate the MUF. While I understand the sensitive nature of this subject, there are a number of unanswered questions which I will need answers to provide the necessary information to my constituents who are concerned by this event. Therefore, I have the following questions:

Considering the significant danger to the public of loose radioactive material, why was the public not notified of this incident immediately after it occurred?
What is the Department of Energy's disclosure and notification procedure after any such loss of radioactive material?
How much plutonium and cesium are missing from the March 2017 incident?
What information do you have about the March 2017 incident and the following incident?
What elements of the Department of Energy or other federal or local agencies are involved in the recovery of the MUF? If so, what progress has been made to date with their attempts at recovering the MUF?
Please list all incidents in the last five years that detail the loss of radioactive materials controlled or owned by the Department of Energy in Texas that has not been reported to Congress?
In the event of MUF involving radioactive material, how did you notify members of Congress whose districts or states were at risk?
What assistance is the Department of Energy providing local law enforcement, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies tasked with the recovery of such radioactive material unaccounted for with their investigations?
In addition to your answers in a written format, I would also request a briefing from you or your designee for me and other members of Congress on this issue. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response and hope you take seriously a culture of nuclear security and prudence.

Sincerely,

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