Leak causes officials to take NJ nuclear plant offline

A leak of low-level radioactive water has forced officials in southern New Jersey to take the Salem 2 Nuclear plant offline.

The Associated Press reports the leak developed during routine testing of an emergency cooling system.

According to the report, plant operator PSEG Nuclear said the incident, which occurred Thursday night, posed no threat to plant workers or the public.  The AP says it’s unclear when the plant will return to service.

A spokesman told the Associated Press nearly 90 gallons of water leaked from a valve into the auxiliary building next to the reactor containment building.

The incident, according to the AP, forced officials to declare an “unusual event.”