Press Release

Buchanan, N.Y. - Con Edison terminated its declaration of an Alert at its Indian Point 2 nuclear generating station today at 6:50 p.m. when the plant reached a cold shut-down condition. The Alert, the second least serious of four emergency categories at nuclear plants, was declared Tuesday, February 15, at 7:29 p.m. when a leak was discovered in one of the plant's four steam generators. Operators shut the plant down manually, and the leakage from the reactor coolant was isolated.

Although there was a momentary release of radiation in the steam turbine building, there has been no measurable release detected within plant boundaries or in the surrounding communities. There was no danger to the health or safety of the public or to employees working at the plant. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and New York State officials were notified promptly, as were representatives of Westchester, Orange, Rockland and Putnam Counties. All four counties sent representatives to the Joint News Center in Harrison, N.Y., which was activated shortly before midnight.

The plant continues to be in stable condition. Plant personnel will now determine the cause of the leak and perform any necessary maintenance. Radiation monitoring will continue. Indian Point 2, located approximately 30 miles north of New York City, is owned and operated by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. It produces 975 megawatts of electricity and has been in commercial operation since 1974.