The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon is back online after the reactor was restarted from an unplanned shutdown caused by a leak of radioactive water.

Plant officials say Vermont Yankee was reconnected to the New England power grid at 5:18 yesterday morning.

The plant was shut down Sunday after a leak of radioactive water was spotted during routine surveillance.

Technicians found the leak was coming from a welded-over section of pipe in the feed water system, a closed loop that carries water to the reactor.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the leak posed no danger to the public.