Radioactive steam leaking from a valve prompted operators to shut down Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, Atomic Power Station’s Unit 2 reactor early Monday morning, according to a company spokesperson.
Though the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) classifies steam leaks of this kind as “infrequent,” a certain amount of leakage is inevitable, said NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan. “You’re talking about a very large industrial complex that has miles of piping,” Sheehan said. “They do develop leakage over time.”
Sheehan said the NRC permits a certain amount of leakage. However, this leak, which he said was at a rate of about 1.17 gallons of water per minute, exceeded the NRC’s allowance.
Exelon said in a news release that Peach Bottom’s Unit 3 is operating at full power, and that Unit 2 will return to service once the repairs are finished.