Operators restarted the Unit 1 reactor at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant near Berwick Sunday (11/3) after repairing a small leak in a pipe inside the reactor building.

The pinhole-sized leak in a 4-inch pipe was discovered during routine inspections as the unit slowly returned to full power following a recent refueling outage. The repair shutdown began Oct. 28.

"We replaced about 15 feet of pipe and corrected the problem," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, Pennsylvania Power & Light Co.'s special assistant to the president for Susquehanna. "We also did other maintenance work that can be done only when the unit is not operating."

Unit 2 at the plant was unaffected, and continues to operate at full power.

The Susquehanna plant, located in Luzerne County about five miles north of Berwick, is owned jointly by PP&L and Allegheny Electric Cooperative Inc.