Duane Arnold Energy Center Exercise Evaluation To Be Discussed At Public Meeting 

Release Date: August 25, 2002
Release Number: R7-02-12d

» 2002 Region VII News Releases

Kansas City, Mo. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that a public meeting will be held on Oct. 25, 2002 to discuss the evaluation of an exercise of the Duane Arnold Energy Center, located near Palo, Iowa. The utility, the state of Iowa, and Benton and Linn Counties will participate in an exercise that will be held October 23 and 24, 2002.

Members of the public and the media are invited to attend the public meeting at 11 a.m. on the 6th floor of the Alliant Tower, located between 2nd and 3rd Ave., S.E. and 1st St, S.E. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The exercise will require the activation of the Emergency Operations Center for the State of Iowa and the Emergency Operations Centers for Linn and Benton Counties. The activities of the state, county and local units of government will be observed and evaluated by FEMA. The Duane Arnold Energy Center on-site performance will be observed and evaluated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Representatives from FEMA's Region VII office, located in Kansas City, Mo., will chair the meeting and discuss off-site activities. A representative from the NRC's Region III office, located in Lisle, Ill., will discuss the on-site activities.

The exercise is a biennial requirement to determine the adequacy of the radiological emergency preparedness and response plans for the utility, the state of Iowa, and the participating counties. The emergency preparedness and response plans are designed to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of the Duane Arnold Energy Center by providing reasonable assurance that appropriate protective measures can be taken onsite and offsite in the event of a radiological emergency.

The NRC is the federal agency responsible for evaluating onsite emergency plans and exercises for nuclear power plants. FEMA is responsible for evaluating offsite plans and exercises for states and counties through the Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program.

Last Modified: Thursday, 28-Aug-2003 10:15:38