Tennessee Valley Authority
TVA, Other Agencies to Conduct Nuclear Exercise
December 5, 2011
ATHENS, Ala. – The Tennessee Valley Authority, along with other federal, state and local agencies will conduct an emergency preparedness exercise for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
The exercise will involve about 1,000 TVA and state of Alabama employees and emergency responders in Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison and Morgan counties. Residents of these counties 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. In addition, the drill will include a Joint Information Center at Calhoun Community's College Fine Arts building.
Representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will evaluate responders on the appropriateness of their actions to ensure 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 NRC to conduct emergency exercises annually.
Every two years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluates the readiness of state and local agencies. Following the exercise, FEMA will conduct a public meeting on Friday, Dec. 9 to discuss the response efforts.
The public meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST, in the Morgan County Emergency Operations Center at the Morgan County Courthouse in Decatur, Ala.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.
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