A reactor automatically shut down at the nuclear power plant in Buchanan on May 9 when an electric transformer failed and ruptured, causing two fires and leaking oil into the Hudson River.
An automatic sprinkler system and workers at Indian Point Energy Center put out the fires that occurred in a non-nuclear, outdoor area of the plant when a transformer for Unit 3 failed for reasons not known at this time. After the fires, the transformer ruptured, causing oil and water from the sprinkler system to overflow a holding tank underground that is designed to capture fluid.
“Immediately following the event, we had protective oil booms on the river to mitigate any potential adverse environmental impact,” said Jerry Nappi, a spokesman for Entergy Corp., Indian Point”™s owner and operator. It is unknown how much of the clear, lightweight oil discharged into the river, but “there is no evidence of an ongoing leak” and little to no evidence of any impact on the environment, he said.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens briefed the media with updates about the incident May 10. “A transformer fire in and of itself was not dangerous, but the fear is always that one situation is going to trigger another,” Cuomo said.
The Unit 3 reactor will likely remain shut down for several weeks, Nappi said. Unit 2 is fully operational.
U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey called on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to investigate the facilities at Indian Point and provide information related to fire safety exemptions provided to the plant.
A statement from her office said, “There must be a thorough investigation by the NRC, which as Indian Point”™s federal regulator is responsible for relicensing, to determine the factors that led to the fire and the safety risks it created.”
The license for Indian Point”™s Unit 2 reactor expired in 2013 but has been extended during the ongoing approval process for a 20-year renewal. Unit 3”™s license is set to expire by the end of the year.
The transformer that ruptured holds roughly 20,000 gallons of fluid and was replaced in 2007, Nappi said. Transformers are meant to last about 30 to 40 years, he said.
“We need to work with the manufacturer to understand why it (transformer) failed after eight years instead of when it typically lasts,” Nappi said. The failed transformer was inspected during the Unit 3 reactor”™s last scheduled refueling outage in March.
It is unknown how much oil discharged into the river, but “there is no evidence of an ongoing leak” and little to no evidence of any impact on the environment, Nappi said.
The week after the leak, Entergy had its employees and contracted environmental managers working on the mitigation process with the Coast Guard on the water and at the plant.
Entergy filed a Notice of Unusual Event, the lowest of four emergency classifications, with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. No release of radiation or injuries were reported.
Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, after being briefed with Entergy officials on the day of the fire, said all protocols apparently were followed by Entergy and “there is no danger to the public.”
On May 6, a steam leak was discovered in one of Unit 3”™s pipes, causing plant workers to gradually shut the reactor down the next morning. There also was no radioactive release or threat of injury after that incident and the reactor was up and running May 8 after the pipe was fixed, Entergy said.
Nappi said there was no indication the pipe-leak incident was related to the transformer failure.
