DEP: Drones not used to track missing radioactive material in NJ
The DEP says that the material was located on Dec. 10 and that drones were not used in the search.
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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has debunked a theory that missing radioactive material could be linked to the mysterious drone sightings across the state.
The link stemmed from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issuing an alert on Dec. 5 that stated that a piece of medical equipment used for cancer scans had been “lost in transit” three days prior.
The DEP says that the material was located on Dec. 10 and that drones were not used in the search.
The FBI, the Homeland Security Department and state agencies have been investigating, but officials say there has been nothing so far to suggest that any drones have posed a national security or public safety threat. In fact, authorities say, many of the drone sightings have actually been legal drones, manned aircraft, helicopters and even stars.
FULL COVERAGE: Drones Over New Jersey
President Joe Biden said Tuesday night that there appears to be nothing nefarious about the flying objects.
“There are a lot of drones authorized. We are following this closely. So far no sense of danger,” Biden said.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) says that the White House needs to be honest with the American people about the drone sightings.
“The Biden White House needs to stop changing their story and instead be honest and frank with the American people—who deserve the truth and absolute transparency. We tolerate no coverups here,” Smith wrote in a statement.
Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday that drone-detection equipment supplied by the federal government has yielded little new information. He declined to describe the equipment except to say it was powerful and could even disable the drones, though he said that’s not legal on U.S. soil.
Murphy urged Congress to give states more authority to deal with the drones.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.
