NRC MONITORS AMMONIA LEAK NEAR WATERFORD 3 NUCLEAR PLANT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staffed its incident response center in Arlington, Texas, last night to monitor response of Entergy Operations, Inc. to an ammonia leak from the Koch Nitrogen plant docks about one mile southeast of the utility's Waterford 3 nuclear power plant near Taft, La.

Waterford 3 operators responded to the toxic gas leak at 9:58 p.m. Sunday by declaring an "alert," the second lowest in the NRC's four-level emergency response plan. They did so because of the potential hazard to plant operators and security personnel. In that heightened state of readiness, operators sealed the plant's control room and security personnel took up sheltered positions. The nuclear plant continued to operate at full power with no difficulties. There were no injuries to Waterford 3 personnel.

The NRC decided to begin its monitoring activities at 11:12 p.m. The ammonia leak was under control by Koch personnel by about midnight, and the "alert" was terminated at 2 a.m. Monday. The NRC ended its monitoring activities at 2:15 a.m.

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Friday, December 05, 2008