West German A-Plant Shut for Repairs
A West German nuclear power plant has been shut down for repairs after ball bearings fell into the reactor pressure container, authorities said Saturday.
The mishap happened two weeks ago at the Isar I plant near Ohu, in lower Bavaria. But it did not become publicly known until the weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported it Saturday.
Josef Vogel, a Bavarian environmental official, told West German radio that magnets will be used to salvage the ball bearings from the radioactive container. He estimated the job will take about 10 days.
Vogel said there had been no radioactive leak from the plant and that there was no danger to people or the environment.
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