Peach Bottom nuclear plant set for drill

A disaster drill, that is.

Harford’s Emergency Operations Center and state officials will test emergency communication systems, conduct field activities and evaluate their emergency response to a simulation at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in nearby Delta, Pa., said Sue Collins, spokeswoman for Harford’s emergency operations division.

“We don’t know what the scenario will be,” Collins said.

“Team members will get a phone call, they’ll give a very sketchy idea of what’s happened, and then we go into action.”

Experts say a real disaster at Peach Bottom, a nuclear power plant seven miles beyond the Pennsylvania line, could spread radiation from New York City to Washington.

To be prepared, Maryland conducts drills every two years.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will evaluate the response, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will assess specifically the on-site reaction of Exelon Nuclear, the company that manages the plant, said NRC spokeswoman Diane Screnci.

Exelon and Peach Bottom had faced increased scrutiny in 2007 after guards were caught sleeping on the job, leading Exelon to fire the company providing security.

This will be the first test of the guards since Exelon took over security from Florida-based contractor Wackenhut.

Collins said Harford won’t set off its own emergency sirens, but sirens will be going off at the plant, and Harford residents might see some activity in the field.

“We don’t want people to panic,” she said.

In the event of an actual emergency, notices will be sent by radio and television.

To avoid disrupting the primary election today, some parts of the drill in Pennsylvania will be held Wednesday night, said Maryland Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ed McDonough.

MEMA and the power plant will participate both days, he said.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com