Radioactive Gas Leaks at Nuclear Plant in Virginia

A leak of radioactive water forced the shutdown today of a reactor at the North Anna nuclear power plant, and a small amount of radioactive gas was released to the atmosphere, utility officials said.

Virginia Power declared an alert, the second-lowest of four emergency classifications, after the accident at one of two North Anna reactors.

The utility said it appeared that the release of gas “continued for about an hour and a half and was well below the station’s technical specification limits.”

“No station employees were injured, and the radioactive gas released poses no threat to the health or safety of the public or employees,” it said.

Ken Clark, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said utility monitors were unable to detect any radioactivity in the atmosphere outside the plant after the gas was vented.