Nuclear Plant in Maryland Reportedly 'Safe and Secure' After Sustaining Damage From Hurricane Irene
Posted on August 29, 2011
NBC Washington reports that the the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant Unit 1 in Lusby, Maryland is "safe and secure" despite sustaining damage to its electrical system during Hurricane Irene.
Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (CENG) said in a statement that the plant automatically went off line late Saturday after a piece of aluminum siding - propelled by wind gusts from the hurricane - slammed into the nuclear facility's main transformer.
CEMG says all safety systems operated as designed when Unit 1 automatically went off line. CENG declared an Unusual Event (UE) at 11:02 p.m. Saturday. Nuclear power plants are required by law to report these events. CEMG says a UE is the lowest of four emergency classifications established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
CEMG says a review of the grounds at the Calvert Cliffs facility indicated that a gust of wind from Hurricane Irene dislodged a piece of aluminum siding from a building, and the siding then struck the main transformer.