The Army discovered two radioactive elements within Anniston's city limits last October after an aerial survey of the former Fort McClellan.
Signs of Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60, both of which emit high-energy gamma particles, were detected in a wooded area on city property more than 200 yards away from the Lenlock Community Center.
Government officials, however, said there is no immediate health hazard stemming from radioactive elements, and radiation levels were low.
"There does not appear to be any immediate threat to public safety," said Tom Decker, a regional chief with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Atlanta.
The Army Corps of Engineers plans to erect a six-foot fence around the area covering 1,000 square feet within six weeks as a precautionary measure while federal and state authorities conduct a study to gauge contamination levels and plan for its removal.
While the exact amount of material is not fully known, officials said no one should ingest or come into contact with vegetation or soil from the area.
The Alabama Department of Public Health's Radiation Office took two soil samples around the material and found radiation levels higher than normal.
"I don't think it warrants any unusual concern," said Kirk Whatley, director of the radiation office. "I think we realize there's a possibility, and that's why we did a survey. Because something was found there does not mean there was a problem that creates a hazard to the public's health and safety."
The radiation office is in the early stages of evaluating the site, which was discovered when the Army was surveying McClellan for radioactive material.
Janet Shelby, a spokesperson with the Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile, said the survey was a requirement for terminating the Army's radiation license.
When the Army operated the Chemical School at Fort McClellan, soldiers were trained in radiological detection of nuclear fall-out and nuclear energy detection.
The area where the Army found the radioactive material once was part of Fort McClellan, but was de-commissioned and deeded over to Anniston in 1976, Ms. Shelby said.
The materials most likely were placed there in the 1950s.
"The Army Chemical School conducted radiation survey training and buried the waste that resulted from the training," Ms. Shelby said. "That was considered standard practice back then. Prior to closure of the school in 1973, they removed the radiation from the post, except for this part, which they missed."
Decker said the Army's activity pre-dates any regulation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the material is very old.
Federal funds from the FUDS program, or Formerly Used Defense Sites, will pay for cleaning up the site, but officials couldn't say how long it would take.
They cautioned people to stay away from the area while scientists conduct their work.
Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60 are manmade radioactive isotopes developed early in the 20th century and have been used commercially for their ability to treat cancer.
Blake Ottwell, who teaches chemistry at Jacksonville State University, said the elements are similar in their radioactive properties. They are both high-energy elements that emit gamma particles - or strong energy rays given off by the elements.
Ottwell, however, said that Cesium-137 has a half-life, or time it takes the amount of the element to break down by half, that is approximately 30 years, while Cobalt-60's half-life is approximately five years.
Ottwell said there is no data that indicates that either element is carcinogenic. However, Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60 have been lethal in Brazil and Thailand respectively. In both cases, people ingested or came into direct contact with the elements.
Ottwell said acute exposure to the material detected near the community center would most likely have less radiation than radiation therapy in a hospital.
But there are concerns.
"It depends on how much is out there," Ottwell said. "If it's on the ground, I would be concerned about it getting into the groundwater, and the other thing is the half-life. I would also be concerned that it's a gamma emitter. I suppose if you could say anything good, it is that it's hopefully not in an area that's used by people."
Anniston Parks and Recreation Director Tammy Chapman said the area is away from the community center, and the Army Corps of Engineers said it rests not more than 100 feet outside the Fort McClellan fence.
Ms. Chapman said there is a mountain bike path in the area, but the material is not near it.
"(Am I) Concerned? Yes," Ms. Chapman said. "(Am I) Alarmed? No. They said someone would have to be leaning up against a tree for an inordinate amount of time for someone to get a dose near what they get at a dentist's office. You'd have to be there 30 hours, and that would be the equivalent of what you'd get at a dentist's office."
Anniston Water Works officials said they have not detected any radioactive material in their water source points, which are Coldwater Spring and Hillabee Reservoir.
"I'm going to say it would be no factor to our water system," said Rodney Owens, spokesperson for the water works department. "We've never had a detect."
A number of other agencies have assisted or will assist in some way in the cleanup, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Army, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Alabama Department of Public Health.
The Anniston City Council approved an easement last week so the Army could conduct further radiological testing in the area.
City Manager Rick Whitehead said he doesn't know when the material will be removed.
"Obviously," he said, "I'd like to see it cleaned up."
