“Buchanan — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was closely monitoring an
“unusual event” at the Indian Point 3 nuclear power plant Monday morning. An
“unusual event,” the lowest of four levels of emergency classification, was
declared at the Buchanan facility at 7:07 a.m. in response to reduced water
levels at the plant’s water intake structure. The “unusual event” was exited
at 10:14 a.m.

Indian Point operator Entergy said the “unusual event” was declared when the
water level in the plant’s service water bay area dropped more than 4 ½ feet
below sea level. The plant was unaffected and continues to operate at full
power. Indian Point 2 is also operating at full power.

Workers removed debris from screens that appear to be the cause of the
lowered water level. Service water cools certain plant equipment such as
pumps and motors.

The NRC’s Resident Inspectors at the plant were following the event and the
Incident Response Center in the agency’s Region I Office in King of Prussia,
Pa., was activated to track developments and determine if plant operators
were responding appropriately.

“If a bunch of debris from the river is all it takes to cause an emergency
at Indian Point, imagine what could happen during equipment malfunctions or,
God forbid, a terrorist attack,” said Congressman John Hall. “This only
underscores the importance of carefully scrutinizing the plant’s proposed
re-licensing and moving full-speed ahead on the development of alternative
forms of energy that are safe and renewable.”

Indian Point 3 is a 1,100-megawatt pressurized water reactor. It is owned
and operated by Entergy.”

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