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Feb 5, 2007 11:14 am US/Eastern
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Indian Point Nuclear Plant Has 'Unusual Event'
Cooling Water Levels Drops Unexpectedly
BUCHANAN, N.Y. (CBS/AP) ―
The Indian Point nuclear power station experienced an unexpected drop in cooling water Monday morning, but the problem was not enough to take the reactor offline, officials said.
Entergy Nuclear Northeast, the company that operates the Indian Point site in Buchanan, N.Y., declared an "unusual event," the lowest of four emergency action declarations for the nuclear power plant, at 7:07 a.m., the company said.
The declaration came after the service water for Indian Point 3 Nuclear Power Plant -- drawn from the Hudson River to cool plant equipment -- dropped more than four feet below sea level.
The problem was blamed on debris stuck to screens that filter the river water.
"The tide was extremely low, so that may have played a role but it wouldn't cause this by itself," said Entergy spokesman Jim Steets.
Plant employees were removing the debris Monday morning, according to a statement from the company which said the water level is returning to normal sea level.
The No. 3 plant was unaffected and is operating at full power, the company said. The facility's other nuclear power plant, Indian Point 2, was also at full power.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)