Oyster Creek Emergency Siren Test Goes Off Without A Hitch

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - All of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant's 42 emergency sirens worked properly during Tuesday's tests, an Exelon spokesperson said.

The sirens sounded promptly at noon and blared for three minutes, just as planned.

The semi-annual tests are conducted in June and December each year. Although Oyster Creek is closing ahead of schedule in October, the siren tests will continue for some time, said spokesperson Suzanne D'Ambrosio.

The warning siren system consists of 42 sirens located within a 10-mile radius of the Oyster Creek Generating Station. The sirens are not a signal to evacuate, but a warning to tune to a local Emergency Alert Broadcast television or radio station. County emergency management authorities activate the sirens, she said.

Exelon plans to close the plant in late October. Oyster Creek is the oldest nuclear plant in the United States. It went online in December 1969.

Photo: Patricia A. Miller