Malfunction shuts oldest U.S. nuke plant

LACEY, N.J., April 27 (UPI) -- A failed transformer has forced the shutdown of New Jersey's Oyster Creek nuclear plant -- the nation's oldest atomic power station, local officials said.

The plant in Lacey was manually shut down Saturday and it was not known when it would resume operating, plant spokesman David Benson said, adding that there were no injuries or release of radiation.

The transformer was installed in February after being used at the nuclear generating station in Eddystone, Pa., Benson said. The Chicago-based Exelon company owns both stations, The Asbury Park (N.J.) Press said Monday.

The 40-year-old Oyster Creek station had a new transformer on order before the malfunction, Benson said.

Last month, after Oyster Creek's license was extended for another 20 years, excessive levels of radioactive tritium were found in ground water on the property and in a monitoring well on the site, environmental regulators said.

The malfunction was unrelated to the tritium incidents, Benson said.