RICHMOND, Va. – An Alert at Dominion’s Surry Power
Station Unit 2 ended at 5:40 a.m. Sunday when off-site power to the station
was partially restored.
The Alert was declared at about 6 p.m. Saturday after two
transformers that provide electricity to station safety systems de-energized
after being struck by siding that had come off the turbine building on the non-nuclear
side of the station.
The siding apparently was blown off by steam that was released
within the turbine building during the shutdown of Unit 2. Dominion is investigating
the cause of the event.
There was no danger to the public or station employees. No
one was injured. Surry Unit 2 was shut down at 5:18 p.m. Saturday. Unit 1 continued
to operate, but at reduced power.
Company workers successfully restored power at about 2 a.m.
to one of the two electrical systems that provide off-site power to the station.
Repairs to the second system are continuing and are expected to be completed
later Sunday.
An Alert is the next to least serious of four emergency categories
in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's rating system. Federal, state and local
officials were notified.
Back-up diesel generators inside the station provide power
to safety systems while off-site systems are out of service.
No release of radioactive material occurred during the incident
beyond the minor amounts associated with normal plant operations. These minor
releases pose no danger to the public or station workers. The minor releases
are below federally approved operating limits, below natural background levels
and cannot be detected at the site boundary.
Surry Unit 1 began operating in 1972 and Unit 2 in 1973. Each
unit generates 799 megawatts.
Dominion (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va., is one
of the nation’s largest producers of energy. For more information about
Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
