Unusual Event' Declared at PPL's Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant
BERWICK, Pa., April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PPL's Susquehanna nuclear
power plant in Luzerne County declared an "unusual event" at 1:25 p.m. EDT on
Wednesday (4/28) because of an electrical failure in a power distribution
panel located in the Unit 2 reactor building.
The affected distribution panel supplies power to the cooling system for
the main generator. Power also was disrupted to the system that removes
certain gases from the turbine's main condenser, without which the unit cannot
operate at full power, said Herbert D. Woodeshick, special assistant to the
president for PPL Susquehanna.
"The plant is stable, and we've reduced power on Unit 2 to about 80
percent," he said. "There was no radioactive release as a result of this
incident, and we've already begun repairs to the affected equipment."
There were no injuries, and off-site fire companies were not needed,
Woodeshick said.
Unit 1 remains at full power.
An unusual event is the lowest of the four emergency classifications
established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for nuclear power
plants. It means a minor problem is in progress or has occurred that could
reduce plant safety. No releases of radioactive material requiring off-site
response or monitoring are expected, and no action by the general public is
required.
PPL has notified Luzerne and Columbia county emergency management
agencies, as well as the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, which are
coordinating support services as needed. The company also has notified the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
PPL has activated its Media Operations Center at the Susquehanna Energy
Information Center along Route 11, seven miles north of Berwick. The phone
number is 570-759-2285.
The Susquehanna plant, located about seven miles north of Berwick, is
owned jointly by PPL Susquehanna LLC and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc.
and is operated by PPL Susquehanna.
PPL Susquehanna LLC is a member of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family
of companies. Headquartered in Allentown, Pa., PPL Corporation controls about
11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in
key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, the
United Kingdom and Latin America. More information is available at
http://www.pplweb.com. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-28-2004/0002162278&EDATEI just read this to my husband and he rolled his eyes. I am 10 miles from that dam plant. I wonder if Abdul cased the "unusual event".