It does sound like there were some criticality safety issues as well. Criticality safety at a DOE or fuel fabrication facilities site is very different from the power plants. Product, parts, and waste that contains fissile material is stored based on calculations and stored in controlled areas that have various restrictions including spacing of containers. Yes it is a poorly worded article the author needed a technical consultant.
That’s potentially significant because the drums were in a “non-favorable’’ position, which under certain circumstances could increase chances of a radiation burst inside the 1,000-employee plant.