Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station will conduct its biennial emergency plan graded exercise Tuesday.

The exercise will gauge the abilities of the Peach Bottom Township plant personnel and offsite emergency responders to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an actual emergency. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will evaluate Peach Bottom's performance during the exercise, according to a news release.

Pennsylvania municipalities and counties within the 10-mile radius of the station will also participate by staffing their Emergency Operations Centers. Other participants include the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Radiation Protection.The Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluates the performance of state, county and municipal emergency organizations during the exercise.

"At Exelon, we take our emergency preparedness responsibilities very seriously," said Tom Dougherty, vice president of the Peach Bottom site. "Throughout the year, we work with a dedicated team of emergency management professionals in Pennsylvania and Maryland with one goal in mind, keeping families safe in the unlikely event of an emergency."

The exercise is the largest of many emergency preparedness drills and training activities conducted at Peach Bottom and all Exelon Nuclear sites.

The exercise will begin Tuesday afternoon and conclude that evening. Residents near Peach Bottom may see exercise activities and hear plant announcements but no sirens will be activated during the drill. All announcements will be proceeded by and concluded with: "This is a drill."