Nuclear Plant Ordered Closed

The government ordered the Philadelphia Electric Co. today to shut down its Peach Bottom nuclear power station because plant operators and their supervisors were falling asleep at its controls.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Frank Ingram said one of Peach Bottom’s two units was already shut down for refueling and the other unit must be brought to a cold shutdown within 36 hours. The commission, acting on a tip, found that night-shift control room operators were sleeping on duty and that the conduct had been occurring for at least five months.