Tennessee Valley Authority
TVA, Other Agencies to Conduct Nuclear Exercise
November 16, 2010
SODDY DAISY, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority, along with other federal, state and local agencies, will conduct a regularly scheduled emergency preparedness exercise for Sequoyah Nuclear Plant on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
The exercise will involve about 1,000 TVA and state of Tennessee employees and emergency responders in Hamilton and Bradley counties. Residents may see radiological monitoring teams or other responders in action as part of the exercise and may hear on-site and off-site sirens sound. Residents are reminded that this is a drill and not an actual emergency.
Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will evaluate responders on the appropriateness of their actions to protect the health and safety of the public.
The emergency exercise is part of a long-term drill and exercise program. Utilities operating nuclear power plants are required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct emergency exercises annually.
Every two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluates the readiness of state and local agencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will conduct a public meeting to discuss response to the exercise.
The public meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. EST Friday, Nov. 19, in the Tennessee River Room at TVA’s Chattanooga Office Complex, 1101 Market St.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for utility and business customers in most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia – an area of 80,000 square miles with a population of 9 million. TVA operates 29 hydroelectric dams, 11 coal-fired power plants, three nuclear plants and 11 natural gas-fired power facilities and supplies up to 33,700 megawatts of electricity, delivered over 16,000 miles of high-voltage power lines. TVA also provides flood control, navigation, land management and recreation for the Tennessee River system and works with local utilities and state and local governments to promote economic development across the region. TVA, which makes no profits and receives no taxpayer money, is funded by sales of electricity to its customers. Electricity prices in TVA’s service territory are below the national average.
Media Contact
Myra Ireland, Chattanooga, (423) 751-7153
Media Relations, Knoxville (865) 632-6000