Full-scale nuke drill set for Tuesday

State, local and federal authorities will conduct a full-scale Prairie Island nuclear plant emergency preparedness exercise Tuesday in and around Red Wing.

The exercise, involving the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Xcel Energy, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Dakota and Goodhue counties, and Pierce County, tests the capabilities of all responsible agencies in the event of a nuclear emergency at the plant, according to Minnesota’s Department of Homeland Security.

The exercise consists of a scenario chosen at random, a press release states. The state’s Department of Homeland Security requires each nuclear plant conduct an exercise every other year.

There will be a public briefing on the results at 10 a.m. Friday in the Goodhue County operations center in Red Wing.

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