Feds inspect Calvert Cliffs nuclear reactors after shutdown

LUSBY, Md. (AP) -- Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors are visiting the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant to probe the unplanned shutdown of both reactors after a transmission line problem that caused outages in the Washington region last week.

The commission announced Monday that a team will assess Exelon's response and the response of equipment and operators at the southern Maryland plant.

The commission says the April 7 grid disturbance caused both reactors to shut down as designed. One reactor's diesel generators started, but the commission says one tripped after 11 seconds. Also, operators had to manually start one of three saltwater pumps for the same reactor when the pump didn't automatically restart.

NRC Region I Administrator Dan Dorman says there was no impact on public health and safety, but the issues "warrant a closer look."