Explosive Device Found At Nuclear Plant

Friday, November 2nd 2007, 5:57 pm

By: News On 6

PHOENIX (AP) -- An Arizona nuclear power plant has been put on lockdown Friday. This, after a contract worker was found to have an explosive device in the back of his truck. The worker was detained.

Sheriff's officials say they've made the device safe, and that investigators are interviewing the worker. The Department of Homeland Security says there's no known terrorism link.

A spokesman for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission describes the device as a small, capped pipe that contained suspicious residue. As soon as it was spotted, the spokesman says, security officials put the nuclear station on lockdown. People were kept from entering and leaving the facility.

The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station is the nation's largest nuclear power plant. It's located in Wintersburg, about 50 miles west of downtown Phoenix. It supplies electricity to about 4 million customers in four states.

A spokesman says the station is operating normally, and that there's no threat to the public.