Nuke Plant Emergency Classified Lowest Level

From Exelon Nuclear:

POTTSTOWN - Operators at Limerick Generating Station declared an "unusual event" at 11:35 a.m. following a non-radiological, industrial chemical release in a building separate from the plant’s nuclear operations.

The event was terminated at 2:44 p.m. During a regularly scheduled delivery of sodium hypochlorite to the plant’s water-treatment facility, a hose disconnected from the storage tank, resulting in the chemical spill of less than one gallon.

The release was immediately stopped and contained. There was no impact to public health or safety from the release. No workers were in the immediate vicinity of the event, but, as a precautionary measure, an employee was evaluated for eye and throat irritation and released back to work. Evaluation of the event and clean-up efforts are under way.

Both Limerick units continue to operate safely and at full power.

An “unusual event” is the lowest level emergency classification as determined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Exelon Nuclear personnel notified all appropriate federal, state and local government officials of the Unusual Event.

About Exelon

Exelon Corporation is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities with more than $17 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of the industry’s largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity, with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.4 million customers in northern Illinois and southeastern Pennsylvania and natural gas to approximately 485,000 customers in the Philadelphia area. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on the NYSE under the ticker EXC.