NJ Nuclear Plant Declares Alert After Storm Surge

America's oldest nuclear plant has declared an alert amid rising water levels from superstorm Sandy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says. The alert, the second-lowest of the four NRC action levels, was issued after water levels at New Jersey's Oyster Creek nuclear power plant rose more than six feet above sea level, high enough to affect the plant's water pumps, Reuters reports. The plant was already out of service for refueling and the NRC expects water levels to subside over the next few hours, reports the AP.

The NRC says all plants that could be affected by the storm "remain in a safe condition, with emergency equipment available if needed and NRC inspectors on-site." At New York's Indian Point plant, one unit was shut down because of external electrical grid issues, but another unit remains in service and the plant's operator says there is no risk to employees or the public. (More Hurricane Sandy stories.)