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Thanks to bd476 for starting this thread.

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1793568/posts

Czech Nuclear Plant Leak Deemed Harmless
Associated Press and ABC News ^ | March 1, 2007

Posted on 03/01/2007 2:49:36 PM PST by bd476

Leak of Radioactive Water Reported at Czech Nuclear Power Plant Deemed Harmless

The Associated Press

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - More than 500 gallons of radioactive water leaked at a nuclear power plant, but did not contaminate the environment, an official said Thursday.

The water leaked early Tuesday at the Temelin plant's first unit, which is currently shut down for fuel replacement, plant spokesman Milan Nebesar said.

"The water went to a special tank through a special ... system and none of it leaked to the environment," Nebesar said. He said that an open valve caused the leak.

The plant's second unit was running at full capacity.

Nebesar said the plant's management has informed Czech and Austrian authorities about the leak.

Austrian officials expressed surprise and anger over the delay in getting word of the mishap, which occurred while Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer was on an official visit to Prague.

Environment Minister Josef Proell lodged a formal protest with his Czech counterparts Thursday, insisting the Czech government explain "why it took more than 50 hours before Austria was informed" of the accident, said his spokesman, Daniel Kapp.

The Czech Republic and Austria have been at odds for years over the plant, located only 35 miles from the Austrian border. Austrian environmentalists have demanded the plant closed because of security concerns. Czech authorities insist it is safe.

Construction of the plant's two 1,000-megawatt units, based on Russian designs, started in the 1980s. The reactors were later upgraded with U.S. technology, but have remained controversial because of frequent malfunctions.