Bleach Spill Triggers 'Unusual Event' Declaration at Nuclear Plant

The following is a release from Limerick Generating Station Site Communications Manager Joe Szafran:

Operators at Limerick Generating Station declared an “Unusual Event” at 11:35 a.m. following a non-radiological, industrial chemical release in a building separate from the plant’s nuclear operations. The event was terminated at 2:44 p.m.

During a regularly scheduled delivery of sodium hypochlorite to the plant’s water-treatment facility, a hose disconnected from the storage tank, resulting in the chemical spill of less than one gallon. The release was immediately stopped and contained.

There was no impact to public health or safety from the release. No workers were in the immediate vicinity of the event, but, as a precautionary measure, an employee was evaluated for eye and throat irritation and released back to work. Evaluation of the event and clean-up efforts are under way.

Both Limerick units continue to operate safely and at full power.

An “Unusual Event” is the lowest level emergency classification as determined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Exelon Nuclear personnel notified all appropriate federal, state and local government officials of the Unusual Event.

According to NRC Public Affairs Officer Neil Sheehan, there are four levels of emergency classification; therefore, Unsual Event would be number four.

"The plant received a delivery of sodium hypochlorite (better known as bleach) this morning at the water treatment facility on-site," Sheehan said. "An approximately one-inch tube was used to transfer the chemical from the tanker truck to a site tank. Approximately one gallon of the chemical was released as this transfer was taking place, and some of it aerosolized. The spill was contained inside the water treatment facility building."

Sheehan said the Unusual Event was terminated at 2:44 p.m.

"This occurred after it was determined that the spill had been contained and was no longer an uncontrolled release. Contractors are working to clean up the spill."