Crack found in weld on western Pa. nuclear reactor

SHIPPINGPORT, Pa. (AP) — FirstEnergy Corp. and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission say a crack has been found in the weld of a western Pennsylvania nuclear reactor, but that no radiation leaked from the unit.

The crack was found Saturday on the reactor vessel head of Unit 2 at the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. The unit has been down for regularly scheduled maintenance and refueling since Sept. 24.

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan says no radiation leaked because the weld did not go all the way through. The power plant, like other nuclear facilities, is changing the metal alloys it uses on such welds, because the former alloys have been found to crack over time.

The Beaver County Times reports the crack is not expected to delay the refueling and maintenance process.

WPXI