More wear found on tubes at ailing Cal nuke plant

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The operator of the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant on the California coast has found more unusual wear on tubes that carry radioactive water.

Southern California Edison says in a statement Thursday that investigators have found wear in the Unit 2 steam generators that is similar to degradation in its sister, Unit 3, though at a lower level.

The twin-reactor plant between San Diego and Los Angeles has been shut down for more than two months.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the plant will remain dark until investigators determine the cause of the wear in the relatively new equipment, then fix it.

The new findings come just days after NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko signaled that Unit 2 might be able to go back into service more quickly than its twin.

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