Emergency exercise conducted for nuclear plant

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is conducting an emergency preparedness exercise at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant.

The exercise scheduled for Tuesday will include officials from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Xcel Energy, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the federal Department of Homeland Security. Officials from Minnesota's Dakota and Goodhue counties and Wisconsin's Pierce County will also participate.

Officials say the exercise will test those agencies responsible for protecting the health and safety of area residents in the unlikely event of a nuclear incident. A scenario for the exercise will be chosen at random.

The Department of Homeland Security requires that each nuclear generating plant conduct an exercise every other year. DHS will evaluate the drill.

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