The success of the nuclear industry relies on a plethora of community and professional partnerships. Nuclear professionals build relationships and work closely with others outside the industry to inform and protect the public, recruit new talent for the industry and serve as environmental stewards. In this two-part series, the Nuclear Information Center explores several areas of the nuclear industry which depend on strong community bonds.
Emergency Planning
Nuclear power plants are some of the most robust facilities in the world and are operated by extensively trained professionals. Nevertheless, nuclear power plant operators make considerable investments in maintaining a rigorous and detailed emergency preparedness plan to protect the public in the unlikely event of an emergency at a facility.
These emergency preparedness plans have a broad reach, involving at least 200 employees at each plant. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, state and local government and emergency response officials (including fire departments, hospitals, law enforcement, etc.) are also included in the company's plan. These partnerships are continuously developed during periodic exercises and task force meetings. Plant employees and emergency response officials work closely to form a finely honed team, ready to respond at a moment's notice.
Click here to read more about emergency planning at nuclear power plants.
Environmental Protection
Protection of the environment is also a main priority for nuclear power plant operators. Duke Energy has had a corporate environmental program since the 1920s. Included in this program is the need for positive working relationships with local, state and national environmental groups. All seven of Duke Energy's nuclear power plants have worked closely with their local wildlife agencies to establish wildlife protection and good environmental stewardship at their sites:
- McGuire, Oconee and Catawba Nuclear Stations are certified as Wildlife and Industry Together (WAIT) sites by the North Carolina and South Carolina Wildlife Federations.
- Brunswick and Crystal River Nuclear Plants partner with local wildlife officials to protect sea turtles by rescuing imperiled sea turtles and return them to the water.
- The Harris plant has a game lands partnership with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and leases land to North Carolina State University for research and teaching
- Crystal River's Mariculture Center collaborates with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to spawn and release recreationally and commercially important fish to the Gulf of Mexico
- In association with Comporium Communications and the Museum of York County, Catawba Nuclear Station installed an external internet “feed” to a webcam focused on one of eight osprey nests on site, so virtual visitors can watch the osprey eggs hatch.
- Land at the Robinson plant is registered in South Carolina's Safe Harbors program for the protection of the red cockaded woodpecker.
Read more about how the nuclear industry works to protect the environment.
Coming Soon...
Next week, the Nuclear Information Center will take a look at the partnerships needed in the industry for community outreach and workforce development. Don't miss it!