Federal, state and local agencies worked jointly to determine the contents and source of a mysterious container found on the beach near the mouth of the Poplar River in Poplar, Wisconsin, Aug. 17, 2016. Initial responders from the U.S. Coast Guard and Superior, Wisconsin, Fire Department determined the box was not emitting any radioactivity, and a follow-on investigation by the Wisconsin National Guard Civil Support Team and Wisconsin Department of Health Services ensured there was no radiation source from the surrounding area and that the object was not a hazard to the public. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
DULUTH, Minn. — Federal, state and local agencies worked jointly to determine the contents and source of a mysterious container found on the beach near the mouth of the Poplar River in Poplar, Wisconsin, Wednesday.
A person walking on the beach saw a container about the size of a deck of cards with what appeared to be radioactive markings on it Wednesday morning and immediately called local emergency services.
Initial responders from the U.S. Coast Guard and Superior, Wisconsin, Fire Department determined the box was not emitting any radioactivity. A follow-on investigation by the Wisconsin National Guard Civil Support Team and Wisconsin Department of Health Services ensured there was no radiation source from the surrounding area and that the object was not a hazard to the public.
The object has been removed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for proper disposal.
"Our swift mobilization of local, state and federal resources for this response reinforced our unified effort to address potential threats to public safety, especially on the eve of the Duluth Tall Ships Festival, a historically well-attended public event," said Cmdr. Erin Williams, commanding officer of Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Duluth.
All the responding agencies thank the initial caller and remind the public to continue to report anything suspicious or unusual to their local emergency services in following with the Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something Say Something” public awareness campaign. Informed, alert communities play a critical role in keeping our nation safe through their vigilance.
Involved in the response and investigation were:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Wisconsin National Guard Civil Support Team
- Superior Fire Department
- Douglas County Sheriff
- Douglas County Emergency Management
Questions about the response should be directed to Scott Gordon, battalion chief of the Superior Wisconsin Fire Department, at 715-394-0227.