Plant's performance on test lauded

The final results won't be known for another three months, but federal officials say the preliminary results of a disaster-response test at the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant shows the state of Missouri has done "an outstanding job."

"This is one of the better exercises we've had," said Paul Elkmann a senior inspector with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

At a briefing at the Ike Skelton Training Center on Friday morning, NRC officials - along with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Ameren Missouri, which owns the Callaway Plant - said the preliminary findings from the test held May 11 show the plant and surrounding communities have the capabilities to handle an emergency at the plant.