3 Nov (NucNet): Officials at the Palo Verde nuclear power plant in the US state of Arizona have ended the seven-hour lockdown that was initiated yesterday with the discovery of a small explosive device in the bed of a contract employee’s truck during the normal security screening of vehicles entering the site.
The site has also terminated the Notification of Unusual Event, which is the lowest of four Emergency Plan event classifications.
The lockdown ended at 15:00 local time on 2 November 2007, said plant operator APS. As a result, Palo Verde employees are resuming normal activities.
“Our entire staff – and in particular our security officers – responded appropriately and professionally to this event,” said Randy Edington, APS executive vice-president and chief nuclear officer.
The device, a small pipe bomb, was removed from the plant site by law enforcement officials, who continue to investigate the event. Palo Verde is cooperating fully with the investigation.
APS said the contractor had been attempting to enter the site through the security check-point at the beginning of the normal day shift.
Palo Verde, about 80 kilometres west of Phoenix, comprises three operational pressurised water reactors which were connected to the grid in 1985, 1986 and 1987 respectively.
