Operators at Indian Point's Unit 2 shut down the nuclear power plant Feb. 13 after pumps shut down and water levels in the steam generators began fluctuating.
Spokesman Jerry Nappi said no radioactivity was released and there was no threat to the public or the workers.
According to Entergy:
Control room operators safely shut down Indian Point’s unit 2 nuclear power plant Wednesday afternoon, following indication of fluctuating water levels inside the plant’s steam generators, which occurred when two pumps that send water from a drain tank to the steam generators stopped operating.Workers were testing a valve associated with the equipment when the pumps, which are located on the non-nuclear side of the plant, stopped operating. An investigation into the cause of the shut down is continuing.There was no release of radioactivity and no threat to the safety of workers or the public. All equipment performed as designed in response to the shutdown.Unit 2 had been online for 252 continuous days prior to today’s shut down.Unit 3 is currently operating at full power and has been online for 104 continuous days.Indian Point Energy Center, in Buchanan, N.Y., is home to two operating nuclear powerplants, unit 2 and unit 3, which generate approximately 2000 megawatts of electricity for homes, business and public facilities in New York City and Westchester County.
The original 40-year operating licenses for Indian Point Units 2 and 3 are due to expire on Sept. 28, 2013 and Dec. 12, 2015.
Entergy, the company that operates Indian Point, has submitted an application for a 20-year extension.
