Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station Exercise Evaluation To Be Discussed At Public Meeting

Release Date: July 13, 2004 Release number: R7-04-052

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that a public meeting will be held on July 23, 2004, to discuss the evaluation of the utility, and state and local participants in an exercise with the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, located near Cordova, Illinois.

Members of the public and the media are invited to attend this meeting beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Quad Cities Station Training Building, 22710 206th Ave N, Cordova, Illinois.

The State of Iowa with Scott and Clinton Counties, and the State of Illinois with Rock Island and Whiteside Counties, will participate in an exercise with the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station on July 21, 2004.

The exercise will require the activation of the Emergency Operations Centers for the States of Iowa and Illinois, as well as several counties. The activities of the state, county and local units of government will be observed and evaluated by FEMA. The Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station 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 concerning the State of Iowa. 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. It will determine the adequacy of the radiological emergency preparedness and response plans for the utility, the States of Iowa and Illinois, and the participating counties to protect the health and safety of the public living in the vicinity of the Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station 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.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.