Level 2 alert lifted at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
A Level 2 alert has been canceled at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station after an ammonia leak caused an emergency alert today! A Level Two emergency involves any “potential substandard degradation in the level of safety of the plant.”There are four emergency levels, under federal regulations. Alarms and sirens at the plant were activated by the ammonia leak, which, according to Southern California Edison officials, was discovered on a tank at the top of the electrical grid in a non-nuclear part of the plant, the southwest yard. The leak was detected at about 3 PM and was confined to Unit 3. The Level 2 alert was lifted at about 6 PM. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that fluid was leaking at the rate of 1 gallon every 10 minutes, and officials activated the Emergency Operation Center as a precaution.
Officials say that no nuclear material leaked from the plant and that no “protective action” is needed at this time.
According to the L.A. Times, Southern California Edison issued the following statement:
At approximately 3pm Pacific Daylight Time, Southern California Edison declared an alert based on identifying an ammonia leak in the steam system used to drive the plants’ turbines.
The leak is in Unit 3’s steam system.
As a precaution, the company evacuated employees in the area near where the leak was found. Other employees remain in other areas of the plant. There is no immediate danger to the public.
Both units are operating normally.
The phone number of the Public Information Hotline is (714) 628-7085.
-Bill at
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