Radiation spike at Yankee plant blamed on human error

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Human error is being blamed for a radiation spike at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant that prompted the evacuation yesterday of about a dozen workers from the main reactor building.

Plant spokesman Robert Williams says a worker did an incomplete job clearing water off of a demineralization filter during routine monthly maintenance. A short time later, control room operators spotted the doubling of radiation levels in a main steam line.

Williams says there were no radioactive releases to the environment, and that the plant’s operations and power level were not affected.

Tuesday’s incident remains under investigation.

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