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Report: Power Plant Didn't Follow Safety Protocol

COVERT TWP. (AP) - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says a weeklong shutdown in September at Palisades nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan was caused by workers and supervisors not following proper safety procedures.

The preliminary report was released this week.

The plant shut down Sept. 25 when officials said two pieces of metal inside a breaker panel touched, causing a short circuit.

Palisades spokesman Mark Savage tells the Kalamazoo Gazette and The Holland Sentinel plant officials are taking actions based on the report's recommendations. The plant in Van Buren County's Covert Township is owned by New Orleans-based Entergy Corp.

Another NRC report from a separate inspection stemming from a coupling failure in August says Palisades didn't follow industry experience in choosing the part.

Savage says this was an oversight by Palisades.

© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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