Operators at the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Luzerne County shut down the Unit 2 reactor Friday (12/17) to repair a water pump inside the unit's primary containment structure.

The pump is one of two that circulate water through the reactor and control the unit's power level. Crews decided to shut the plant down when they noticed leakage at the pump's outer seal. The second, inner seal, was functioning properly and the pump continued to operate.

"This was a conservative decision," said Herbert D. Woodeshick, special assistant to the president for PP&L, Inc., operator of the power plant.

"The pump is capable of operating safely with one seal," he added. "But we decided to repair it now to retain that extra margin of safety."

Unit 1 at the plant continues to operate at full power.

The Susquehanna plant, jointly owned by PP&L, Inc. and Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc., is located about five miles northeast of Berwick along Route 11.