NNSA to hold major radiological incident exercise with international, federal, state, and local partners, March 14-21.

WASHINGTON – More than 70 local, state, provincial, and federal agencies from the United States and Canada will hold a major radiological incident exercise at various locations in southeast Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario from March 14-21. The Cobalt Magnet 25 exercise is led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in partnership with the Michigan State Police’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. It will bring numerous agencies together to ensure preparedness against radiological threats, incidents, and accidents.

Cobalt Magnet 25 represents the culmination of 18 months of planning by local, state, provincial, and federal responders. The exercise will enable more than 3,000 participants to assess response capabilities to a notional nuclear power plant accident scenario. It will enable response personnel to practice scanning for radiological materials, protecting public health and safety, providing emergency relief to affected populations, and restoring essential services.

During the exercise, members of the public may see response personnel in protective clothing using radiological monitoring and detection equipment, low-flying aircraft conducting data-gathering overflights, and groups of first responders and others staged at various locations. There will be no need for alarm. Cobalt Magnet 25 is part of a regular program of training, exercises, and planning for the partners to prepare in case of public health and safety emergency.

“The Nuclear Emergency Support Team – or NEST – is trained to provide decision-makers with timely, actionable scientific advice during radiological incidents,” said Dr. Wendin Smith, the DOE Deputy Under Secretary for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. “We exercise to validate our ability to quickly determine the extent and severity of radiological hazards, whether and how the public is affected, and enable the optimal response. If such a scenario did take place, this would save lives and reduce public impacts. NEST’s core mission is providing this critical information to local, state, and federal leaders as soon as possible.”

NEST is NNSA’s multi-mission nuclear emergency response capability, providing highly trained and equipped scientists and technical experts to contend with any conceivable nuclear or radiological challenge. During Cobalt Magnet 25, NEST will provide radiological monitoring and assessment assistance to state and local leaders to make informed public health and safety decisions. NEST also works with local, state, provincial, and federal law enforcement to conduct radiological search operations and identify potential threats.

Learn more about NNSA and its missions.

Learn more about the NNSA’s NEST.