MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - A small amount of radiation has been detected in a reactor building at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in central Pennsylvania.
Officials say about 150 employees were sent home after the radiation was detected Saturday afternoon, but that there is no public health risk.
Investigators say radiological surveys showed the contamination was confined to surfaces inside the containment building.
The unit has been shut down for refueling and maintenance since Oct. 26.
Bill Noll, Exelon's senior executive at Three Mile Island, says workers were sent home until the area could be cleaned. The company hopes to resume activities Sunday.
Officials are checking employees who had been working in the building for possible unusual radiation exposure.
A partial meltdown occurred in Three Mile Island's Unit 2 reactor in March 1979.
