Reactor shutdown at nuclear plant in NYC suburbs

BUCHANAN, N.Y. - A nuclear power reactor in the New York City suburbs has been shut down because of an electrical fault, federal regulators said Tuesday.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Neil Sheehan said Indian Point 2 went into a "hot shutdown" at 10:42 p.m. Monday. That means the reactor is offline but can be brought back quickly.

However, Sheehan said operators also found problems with two valves. As a result, the plant is venting steam into the air rather than using the steam to turn a turbine.

The vented steam is from the side of the plant that does not use radioactive water and is not a danger, Sheehan said.

Plant owner Entergy Nuclear said Indian Point 3, the other reactor at the Buchanan site, remained at full power.

That reactor has had considerably more trouble with shutdowns recently. In August, it suffered its fourth unplanned shutdown since May, triggering extra NRC inspections and oversight.

Entergy is seeking new 20-year licenses for both plants, which are on the Hudson River about 35 miles from Manhattan. New licenses, which would keep the plants running into the 2030s, are opposed by New York State, some environmental groups and others. Hearings are planned for next year, but the NRC has never denied a license renewal.

Because it is near New York City and amid densely settle suburbs, opponents claim it is a possible terror target. They also say no effective evacuation of the area is possible in the case of a sudden problem at the plant. Environmentalists argue that the plant kills millions of organisms in the Hudson.

The owners dispute such claims and insist the plant is secure. They also point out that the metropolitan area needs Indian Point's 2140 megawatts of power.

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