New Cracks In Cooling Towers At Vermont Yankee

Vermont Yankee nuclear plant officials say two new cracks have been found and repaired in a rebuilt tower that cools water from the plant.

The cracks were found June 17,and  were not publicly reported by the plant.

The water cools the reactor, but it is not radioactive.

The Rutland Herald says the cracks' existence came to light Tuesday during a meeting held by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Plant spokesman Larry Smith said yesterday the cracks in a 36-inch pipe were both about 12 to 15 inches long, and were spilling about 10 gallons of water a minute. He says the problem didn't meet the plant's threshold for public reporting.

In August 2007, a different cooling tower at Vermont Yankee collapsed.