Limerick Power Plant Inspected For Damage

UPDATED 8/23/11 @ 4:35 p.m.

An official release from Exelon...

All Four Exelon Nuclear Mid-Atlantic Plants Operating Safely Following Regional Seismic Activity

KENNETT SQUARE - None of Exelon Nuclear's four Mid-Atlantic nuclear energy stations was affected by this afternoon’s seismic activity in Virginia, and all continue to operate
safely at this time. An “Unusual Event” was declared at each of the stations following the seismic activity, in accordance with plant procedures: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Three Mile Island
Generating Station and Limerick Generating Station in Pennsylvania, and Oyster Creek Generating Station in New Jersey.

Plant equipment continued to function normally at each of the Exelon Nuclear stations. Operators are currently performing "walk-downs" to identify any potential affects from the seismic activity, but no
damage to equipment or plant operations has been identified at this time. Each plant continued to operate at normal power level throughout the event and no evacuations or additional safety measures were required.

Nuclear energy plants are designed specifically to withstand the impact of earthquakes and other severe acts of nature. The earthquake, reported to be at a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter Scale, did not
challenge the engineered design of the Exelon facilities.

An “Unusual Event” is the lowest level emergency classifications as determined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

UPDATE 3:58 p.m. Aug. 23, 2011: Federal officials say two nuclear reactors in Louisa County, Va., were automatically taken offline by safety systems. - 6abc.com reports.

UPDATE 2:58 p.m. Aug. 23, 2011: Limerick Generating Station Site Communications Manager Joe Szafran said Exelon's Limerick Generating Station power plant is being examined.

"Right now, when we experience a seismic event like we did, we have procedures that we follow that include (inspection) of plant equipment. We are in the middle of getting that started and doing that as we speak. The plant is continuing to operate safely throughout the event and are still operating safely at full power and 100 percent. That's where we're at now."

UPDATE 2:40 p.m. Aug. 23, 2011: Patch.com left messages for Exelon's Limerick Generating Station but calls were not returned.

This post has been abridged from the full version at .