Watts Bar Nuclear Plant intruder, shooting under federal probe

The cooling tower of the single operating reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant belches steam in Spring City, Tenn.

Watts Bar Nuclear Plant

The FBI has joined the TVA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigating a trespasser who exchanged gunfire with a security officer on the property of the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant early Sunday morning.

It is unclear why the intruder — who escaped — was there, and investigators are saying little.

But the nuclear plant, like all federal facilities, remains under high security alert in the aftermath of the Boston bombings last week, and investigators combed the area — even with helicopters and surveillance aircraft — for well over 12 hours Sunday.

“It’s been a long day,” FBI Special Agent Ed Galloway said Sunday evening. “All I can say is that we are devoting our resources and we are committed to resolving any issues here.”