A trace amount of radioactive contamination was detected Wednesday (11/12)in clothing worn by an employee of the Susquehanna nuclear plant during a routine drill, according to a spokesman for PP&L, Inc., the plant's operator.

The contamination was found during a check performed by PP&L personnel at Berwick Hospital. One of the employee's protective "booties" was found to have trace amounts of "fixed" contamination — which does not rub off or transfer to people.

"There were no injuries, and no plant employees, emergency workers or members of the public were contaminated," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, PP&L's special assistant to the president for Susquehanna.

"The bootie, which is worn to protect the shoes and feet, will be returned to the plant for processing."

Annual "contaminated injury drills" are a valuable part of Susquehanna's overall emergency planning effort, Woodeshick said. They are designed to demonstrate the ability of local ambulance crews and hospitals to deal with an injured, contaminated worker. Participating in today's drill were the Shickshinny and Berwick ambulance crews, Berwick Hospital and Penn State-Geisinger Medical Center.

"Even though this is an extremely small amount of fixed contamination which in no way affected anyone involved," said Woodeshick, "PP&L will investigate and make any necessary changes in procedures to ensure that protective clothing with fixed contamination does not inadvertently leave the plant site."

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