Workers Plug Second Leak At Vermont Yankee

(Host) Workers at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant used an unplanned shutdown to fix two leaks in the plant's plumbing.

Last night, technicians repaired a 24-inch feed-water pipe that sprang a leak over the weekend. The problem was traced to a two-inch plug that was used for monitoring equipment when the plant was built 38 years ago.

A stronger weld was used to seal the leak. Larry Smith is a Yankee spokesman, and he expects the plant to re-start soon.

(Smith) "It is good news. It turns out it was a conservative decision to shut the plant down but that's what we do at Vermont Yankee. And based on industry operating experience with feed-water systems and the leak, we made the decision to shut the plant down for nuclear safety, for worker safety. Maybe a little overkill but that's the way we work in this business."

(Host) Workers also used the shutdown to repair a leak in the high pressure coolant injection system. That pinhole leak was discovered in September in a one-inch diameter drain line.