False alarm sounds as SC nuke plant goes on line

HARTSVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A fire alarm went off in a containment building at the H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant near Hartsville as a reactor was being brought back on line after an unplanned shutdown earlier this week.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the alarm sounded early Thursday but there was no fire or smoke. NRC spokesman Roger Hannah says the reactor is now going back on line and the problem appeared to be a faulty alarm.

The plant was being brought back up after a faulty electrical relay caused the reactor to shut down Monday. Progress Energy said the reactor automatically switched off when a gauge incorrectly detected low coolant level.

The NRC has been monitoring the plant more closely after four reactor shutdowns in less than a year.