CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) — The San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California is shutting down some of the tubes in a reactor because of premature wear.
Southern California Edison spokesman Gil Alexander announced Monday that an undisclosed number of tubes will be taken out of service because an inspection uncovered accelerated wear.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Victor Dricks tells U-T San Diego (http://bit.ly/A0zhS2 ) that it won't affect the reactor's efficiency.
The tubes carry radioactive water for heat transfer. Each reactor has nearly 10,000 of them.
A leak in a tube shut down one plant reactor last month and allowed some water to leak along with traces of radioactive gas. However, officials say there was no danger to workers or neighbors.
The cause of that leak is still being traced.
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Information from: U-T San Diego, http://www.utsandiego.com