Md. Nuclear Plant's 2 Reactors Shut Down

LUSBY, Md. (AP) -- Federal inspectors are reviewing an unplanned shutdown of both nuclear reactors at the Calvert Cliffs power plant during last week's snowstorm.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says an inspection team begins work at the Lusby plant on Monday.

NRC officials say when electricity to the plant was interrupted on Jan. 21, snow and ice affected a ventilation louver filter, causing a short circuit. Several plant systems shut down, including motors for moving control rods and circulating water pumps in Unit 2, triggering an automatic shutdown. Officials say the electricity loss also caused the main turbine control circuit in Unit 1 to malfunction, which led that unit to shut down automatically too.

NRC officials say the reactors were taken out of service safely and there were no public health or safety impacts.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)