Press Release-II-13-021, NRC Monitors Security Event at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant

Press Release-II-13-021: NRC Monitors Security Event at Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant

ML13112A350
Person / Time
Site:	Watts Bar
Issue date:	04/21/2013
From:	Roger Hannah, Joey Ledford Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-II-13-021
Download: ML13112A350 (1)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 245 Peachtree Center Ave. NE, Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 Web Site: www.nrc.gov No. II-13-021 April 21, 2013 CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417 E-mail: OPA2@nrc.gov Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 NRC MONITORS SECURITY EVENT AT WATTS BAR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region II staff is monitoring the Watts Bar nuclear power plant as a result of a security incident just before 2 a.m. The NRC has staffed its incident response center in the Region II office in Atlanta and is monitoring the events along with the resident inspector who has responded to the site.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, which operates the Watts Bar plant, notified the NRC that a security officer patrolling on TVA property near the Tennessee River exchanged gunfire with an individual. This location is outside the plants protected area. The officer was not injured and local law enforcement is assisting in the response to the incident. The incident occurred more than a quarter mile from the plants protected area and the plant remains secure.

As a result of the incident, the Watts Bar plant staff declared an unusual event, the lowest of the NRCs four emergency classifications.

The Watts Bar plant is located near Spring City, Tenn., about 60 miles southwest of Knoxville. Watts Bar Unit 1 is at 100 percent power and Unit 2 is under construction.