HOUSTON, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- A nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly plant in the U.S. state of Texas was put on precautionary lockdown Friday because of a "potential security situation," according to a news release.

    The Pantex Plant in Carson County, Texas, activated its Emergency Response Organization at around 8 a.m. after armed hunters were spotted near the plant, the Carson County Sheriff's Department said.

    The plant is in a lockdown status and the situation is "being evaluated in order to facilitate security actions" and employees "are sheltered in place," a news release by the company said.

    "There was not a threat to the Pantex plant assets, workers, or the public, and the plant is now returning to normal operations," the release said.

    The plant is the country's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility, according to the release.