Millstone Unit 3 Reactor Shut Down For Repairs

WATERFORD, CT — Waterford Police took to Facebook to share a letter that was sent to residents near Millstone Unit 3 advising them that the nuclear reactor will be shut down Tuesday night so repairs can be made to a back-up generator.

Police said that they were sharing the "message from Millstone that they sent to to nearby neighborhoods, and wanted the whole town to have the notification."

Per police, this is the letter:

A letter from Dominion spokesman Ken Holt reads:

"Dear Millstone neighbor,

I wanted to give you a heads-up that operators will be removing Millstone Unit 3 from service tonight to allow for repairs to a backup diesel generator. As you know, shutting the reactor down requires the venting of steam, which can be noisy. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause you.

I wanted to give you a heads-up that operators will be removing Millstone Unit 3 from service tonight to allow for repairs to a backup diesel generator. As you know, shutting the reactor down requires the venting of steam, which can be noisy. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause you.

The unit will be returned to service after repairs are made.
If you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call at (860) 440-0132.

Thank you,
Ken Holt
Manager of Nuclear Fleet Communications

Holt told Patch that typically only immediate neighbors hear the noise from the steam. And he said that the Unit 2 reactor is louder when taken off line. He did not have a timeline for when the reactor would be back online. He said that he emailed neighbors and also reached out to both Waterford and East Lyme police as people have been known to call authorities when they hear the noise from the reactor.

Holt said there are two back-up generators to supply power to the reactor in the event it's needed and with one in need of repairs, he said that "forced" the reactor shut-down.