Hole 'Drilled' Into Pipe At Turkey Point Reactor
Reactor Ordered Shut Down By NRC; FPL Says The Damage Has Been Repaired; Three Investigations Underway, Cause Unknown
CBS4-News, FL
April 1, 2006
(CBS4 News)HOMESTEAD An investigation is underway into how a small hole was drilled into a pipe at a Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant reactor. FPL investigators are now trying to determine if the hole was drilled accidentally or deliberately.
The reactor at the plant, on Biscayne Bay approximately 30 miles south of Miami, had been shut down for what FPL called routine refueling. The reactor ordered shut down is one of two at the plant.
Florida Power and Light officials say that inspectors conducting a routine test of a nuclear reactor at the Turkey Point power plant found a small holed drilled into a pipe that helps maintain pressure.
The damage was discovered late Thursday during a series of tests and inspections performed before bringing the unit back online, An F-P-L
spokeswoman says the one-eighth-inch hole was discovered late Thursday during a series of tests and inspections performed before bringing the unit back online.
The damaged pipe has been repaired, and though the company's investigation continues, F-P-L plans to bring the unit back into service in about a week. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and FBI are also conducting their own investigations.
The second nuclear unit, as well as two units powered by oil and natural gas, remain fully operational, and FPL says power customers should see no effect from the shutdown.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
|
