Hope Creek nuclear reactor shut down after steam pipe bursts

Hope Creek nuclear reactor shut down after steam pipe bursts

TRENTON, N.J. - Oct 14 (The Associated Press)

Federal investigators are trying to determine what caused a steam pipe to rupture inside the Hope Creek nuclear power plant, forcing operators to shut the reactor down Sunday night.

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection team remained at the Salem County power plant Thursday, spokeswoman Diane Screnci said.

Radioactive steam did escape into the power plant's turbine room, and some was released through air vents, she said. The amount of radioactivity detected was less than 1 percent of what federal regulations allow.

"And there was no measurable contamination, no contaminated areas created in the turbine building or outside," Screnci said.

Workers at the plant run by Public Service Enterprise Group first noticed the steam leak around 6 p.m.

They reduced power, and they shut the entire plant down within 30 minutes, Screnci said.

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