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Apr 5, 2007 9:59 am US/Eastern
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Mechanical Problem Shuts Down Indian Point 3
BUCHANAN, N.Y. (CBS/AP) ―
The Indian Point 3 nuclear power reactor was shut down for nearly a day because of a mechanical problem, but the malfunction posed no danger to the public or workers, plant officials and federal regulators said.
Workers shut down Indian Point 3, one of two active reactors at the Indian Point nuclear power station in Westchester County, shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday. A water pump that feeds the plant's steam generators had malfunctioned, officials said.
No radiation was released, officials said.
The 31-year-old plant returned to service around 1 a.m. Wednesday, after its staff did an analysis that determined it was safe to restart, said Neil Sheehan of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"We didn't identify any problems there," he said, adding that the agency would conduct a follow-up inspection.
A spokesman for plant operator Entergy Nuclear Northeast said the reactor was expected to operate smoothly after the shutdown.
"This is about operating the plant safely," said the spokesman, Jim Steets.
Indian Point 3 had just been restarted Saturday after a scheduled, 24-day outage for refueling and maintenance. The plant, about 50 miles from New York City, had two unplanned shutdowns last year, according to NRC records.
The reactor produces about 1,000 megawatts of electricity, the amount used by about 2 million homes.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)