The Department of Health will provide free potassium iodide, or KI, tablets to people who live or work within a 10-mile radius of Pennsylvania's five nuclear power plants beginning September 1.

The KI tablets that were distributed previously by the commonwealth will expire on August 31 and should be discarded in the trash. The pills should not be used after the expiration date.

The new KI tablets will be distributed beginning September 1, through September 3, at sites across Pennsylvania. Hours will be from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the exception of Montgomery County's site, which will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

If for any reason people are unable to pick up KI during the initial three-day distribution, or if they decide at a later time that they'd like to get KI, Health Department offices will maintain a supply and will make it available for pick up by the public during normal business hours.

Pennsylvania has five nuclear power plants: Beaver Valley Power Station, Limerick Generating Station, Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, and Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station.

Each person who lives within the 10-mile radius of one of the five power plants will be eligible to receive four 65-milligram tablets per person. Individuals will be allowed to pick up tablets for their family members and those who are unable to pick them up on their own.

In addition to the tablets, instructions will be available detailing how to store the tablets and when they should be taken. Health department staff also will be on site to answer questions.

The public is reminded to not take KI during a test of the Emergency Alert System or during a test of the sirens located near nuclear power plant sites. Residents should only take the pills when directed to do so by the Governor or state public health officials.

KI will also be available for those who work within the 10-mile radius, but do not live there. Employers can contact the Department of Health at 1-877-PA-HEALTH to make arrangements to pick up tablets for their entire workforce.

School districts within the 10-mile radius also have the option of deciding whether to accept and how to distribute KI for their students. These schools have received instructions for requesting KI.

Residents who have questions about the KI tablets can also talk to their family physicians and pediatricians about whether or not there are specific reasons why KI should not be taken.

For additional information about potassium iodide, visit call 1-877-PA-HEALTH or visit the Health Department's KI webpage.

Below are the KI distribution sites for September 1-3. Residents are welcome to go to any distribution site within the 10-mile radius of the nuclear facility in their area:

-- Beaver County – State Health Center, 300 S. Walnut Lane, Beaver, PA 15009

-- Berks County – Keystone Fire Company, 240 N. Walnut St., Boyertown, PA 19512 – Phone 610-367-2200

-- Chester County – Kimberton Fairgrounds, Rt. 113 South of Seven Stars Rd., Kimberton, PA 19442

-- Montgomery County – Hope Community Church, 2732 N. Charlotte St., Gilbertsville, PA 19525

-- Lancaster County – Solanco High School, 585 Solanco Rd., Quarryville, PA 17566 – Phone: 717-786-2151

-- York County – South Eastern School District, Administration Building, Community Room, 377 Main St., Fawn Grove, PA 17321

-- Columbia County – Bloomsburg State Health Center, 1000 Market St., Unit 4, Bloomsburg, PA 17815

-- Luzerne County – Butler Township Municipal Building, 415 W. Butler Dr., Drums, PA 18222 – Phone: 570-788-3547

-- Luzerne County – Luzerne County Community College, Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) 1333 S. Prospect St., Nanticoke, PA 18634 – Phone: 570-740-0481

-- Dauphin County – Harrisburg Mall, Upper Level Center Court, 3601 Paxton St., Harrisburg, PA 17111

-- Lancaster County – Masonic Village, Freemasons Cultural Center, 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown, PA 17022

-- York County – Fairview Township Fire Department, 340 Lewisberry Rd., New Cumberland, PA 17070

-- York County – Manchester Township Municipal Building, 3200 Farmtrail Rd., York, PA 17406