radioactive liquid and steam was released from Unit 3 when Millstone shutdown

Newsday.com: NRC criticizes response to Millstone shutdown: "

AP Connecticut
NRC criticizes response to Millstone shutdown

July 9, 2005, 12:35 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission criticized how operators at the Millstone nuclear power reactor in Waterford handled an emergency shutdown in April, according to a recent report.

Investigators cited plant technician performance, insufficient diagnosis of the reactor's problem and poor communication. They said that together, the three factors created unnecessary risks.

The report also said supervisors for Dominion Nuclear of Connecticut Inc. didn't provide clear guidance on the scope of review needed in the days after the shutdown.

"Our operators responded very conservatively to these events, and we strongly support that," said Peter Hyde, a spokesman for Dominion. "But, we recognize this was not our finest hour."

Overall, the problems were non-threatening, according to the report, and overall response by operators was deemed adequate.

The emergency shutdown was apparently prompted by the malfunctioning of a computerized reactor protection system's circuit card, investigators said. During the shutdown, a safety valve that opened automatically to release heat produced as a result of the shutdown was open for too long.

Dominion determined that an insignificant amount of radioactive liquid and steam was released from Unit 3 because of the shutdown, the NRC report said.

___

Information from: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com "