A-Plant Steam Leak Prompts Alert

Operators shut down one of the two reactors at the McGuire nuclear power plant near Charlotte after a leak caused a small amount of radioactive steam to be released into the air, officials said today.

There was no danger to the public or employees, but plant officials declared an alert at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, said Duke Power Co., which owns the plant.

An alert is the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s second-least serious of four emergency categories. It means that an event has occurred that could potentially affect the safety of the plant.

“The average person should not have cause for concern,” Duke spokesman Mike Mullen said. “The unit was shut down safely and the unit right next to it is continuing to supply power to our customers on a cold morning. We will continue to keep the public’s health and safety at the top of our concerns.”