Attempt to Damage Arizona Nuclear Plant Suspected

A sudden drop in water pressure in the unfinished Unit 2 reactor at the Palo Verde nuclear plant was being investigated Thursday as a case of attempted criminal damage.

Fingerprints were recovered from an equipment panel in a remote control room apparently used to lower the pressure in Monday’s incident, Sheriff’s Cpl. Jay Ellison said in Phoenix.

“It appears to be the work of somebody who knew what they were doing,” said Greg Cook, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. “I don’t want to speculate on the individual’s motives, but they were . . . no good.”