NRC MAINTAINS HEIGHTENED WATCH OVER NUCLEAR PLANTS IMPACTED 

BY SANDY; THREE REACTORS EXPERIENCED SHUTDOWNS DURING STORM; 

OYSTER CREEK PLANT REMAINS IN ALERT

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission continues to maintain its heightened watch 

over nuclear power plants in the Northeastern United States impacted by Sandy. Three reactors 

experienced shutdowns during the storm while another plant, Oyster Creek in New Jersey, 

remains in an “Alert” due to high water levels in its water intake structure. 

The three reactors to experience trips, or shutdowns, during the storm are Nine Mile Point 

1 in Scriba, N.Y., Indian Point 3 in Buchanan, N.Y.; and Salem Unit 1 in Hancocks Bridge, N.J. 

Nine Mile Point 1 underwent an automatic shutdown at about 9 p.m. Monday when an 

electrical fault occurred on power lines used to send power to the grid. It is likely a storm-related 

event, but the plant’s operators are still evaluating the cause. All plant safety systems responded 

as designed and the shutdown was safely carried out. Meanwhile, Nine Mile Point 2 experienced 

a loss of one of two incoming off-site power lines as a result of the fault. One of the plant’s 

emergency diesel generators started in response to generate power usually provided by the line. 

Nine Mile Point 2 remained at full power.

Indian Point 3 automatically shut down at about 10:40 p.m. Monday in response to 

electrical grid disturbances caused by the storm. All safety systems responded as designed and 

the unit was placed in a safe shutdown condition.

Salem Unit 1 was manually shut down by plant operators at about 1:10 a.m. Tuesday as a 

result of circulating-water pumps being affected by high river level and debris in the waterway. 

The circulating-water system is used to cool down steam generated by the reactor; it is a closed 

system that does not come into contact with any radioactivity.

At Oyster Creek, the Alert was declared at approximately 8:45 p.m. An alert is the 

second-lowest level of emergency classification used by the NRC. The Alert was preceded by an 

“Unusual Event” at about 7 p.m. when the water level first reached a minimum high water level 

criteria. The water level rose due to a combination of a rising tide, wind direction and storm 

surge. While the water level has dropped since peaking earlier today, the Alert will not be exited 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region I 

2100 Renaissance Blvd., King of Prussia, Pa. 19406-2713

E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov 

Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov

No. I-12-043

Contact: Diane Screnci, (610) 337-5330

 Neil Sheehan, (610) 337-5331

Oct. 30, 2012 10 a.m.

Email: opa1.resource@nrc.gov
until the level is below the specific criteria for the intake structure, which is where water from an 

intake canal is pumped into the plant for cooling purposes. Oyster Creek was shut down for a 

refueling and maintenance outage prior to the storm and the reactor remains out of service.

The NRC will continue to coordinate with other federal and state agencies prior to the 

restart of the affected plants.

 The NRC stationed inspectors at all of the plants expected to experience the greatest 

effects of the storm. Those inspectors were tasked with independently verifying that operators 

were following relevant procedures to ensure plant safety before, during and after the storm.

 In addition, the NRC has been monitoring the storm from its emergency response centers.

Nuclear power plant procedures require that the facilities shut down under certain severe 

weather conditions. The plants’ emergency diesel generators are available if off-site power is lost 

during the storm. Also, all plants have flood protection above the predicted storm surge, and key 

components and systems are housed in watertight buildings capable of withstanding hurricaneforce winds and flooding.

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