Maine Yankee shutdown until mid-summer

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

The following article was received from  UPI News Service
-----------------------
 WISCASSET, Maine, Jan. 31 -- Officials at the problem plagued 
Maine Yankee nuclear power plant say new federal restrictions will
prevent it from resuming operations until mid-summer. 
 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission demanded Thursday the plant repair 
 new flaws discovered in recent months and complete an analysis of 
why the plant had been operating so long having known about the 
flaws.  The company says one example of needed repair is raising 
safety equipment within the nuclear containment building at least two 
feet so it won't be under water if a cooling-system pipe breaks. 
 Other repairs involve the connection of large water pumps and the 
backup water cooling system. 
 The 24-year-old Wiscasset plant has been shut down for repairs since 
 Dec. 5 and had planned to return to power by mid-March. 
 But Maine Yankee spokeswoman Maureeen Brown now says the further 
delay means Central Maine Power, the plant's lead owner, will be down
at least into the middle of summer. 
 She said Maine Yankee must continue spending some $1 million each 
week it is off-line to buy replacement power and cost may go higher
into the summer. 
 Earlier this week, plant officials announced there was a problem with
  far worse radiation leaks than expected from fuel rods. 
 On Wednesday, federal regulators added Maine Yankee to the ``watch'' 
 list of worst run plants in the country requiring special NRC
scrutiny. 

Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax: (714) 668-3149

E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com    

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