The State : Diablo Accident Releases Tainted Air

Workers at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant near San Luis Obispo accidentally flooded the primary cooling system for the plant’s Unit Two reactor, releasing minute amounts of contaminated air into the atmosphere in a spill that was contained within the complex. Spokesmen for the plant’s owner, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., called the incident “minor” and not an “emergency-level event.” Officials said workers were preparing to refuel Unit Two when a valve malfunctioned in the cooling system. When they attempted to readjust cooling water levels, the workers overfilled the system by 20 to 30 gallons, which spilled onto a walkway within the containment building. A cleanup of Unit Two, which began producing commercial electricity 13 months ago, is expected to be completed by today. The Diablo Canyon plant houses a second reactor, which will not be affected, a spokesman said.