Cuomo visited the plant for a briefing on Sunday. The governor,
who in the past has called for the plant to be shut down because of
its proximity to densely populated New York City, also visited the
plant on Saturday.
When the transformer exploded, it released oil into a holding tank,
which then overflowed, sending oil onto the ground and into the
river, Cuomo told reporters on Sunday after he was briefed by
emergency and plant officials.
He said crews were working to contain and clean up the oil spill but
it was not clear yet how much oil had been released.
"If you are on site, you see an oil sheen all over the area where
the transformer went on fire, and it was a significant area that was
covered by oil, foam and water," Cuomo said.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/11/images/ads/current/Matthews_construction_sda_042414.png) The transformer explosion and fire at the nuclear power reactor 40
miles (65 km) north of New York City was quickly put out. The fire
triggered the closure of the plant's Unit 3 reactor, while the other
Unit 2 reactor continued to operate.
Entergy Corp <ETR.N>, which runs the facility and is one of the
largest U.S. nuclear power operators, said the plant was stable and
there was no danger to the public or to employees.
"Anything that happens at this plant obviously raises concerns," due
to the proximity to the largest U.S. city, Cuomo said.
"The transformer fire in and of itself was not dangerous.
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![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2012/Sep/18/images/ads/current/demay_inv-lda081412.png)
But the fear is always that one situation is going to trigger
another. If something goes wrong here, it goes very wrong for a lot
of people."
Cuomo said emergency crews thought the fire was out but it reignited
and had to be extinguished again.
The transformers are located around 300-400 feet away from the
reactor.
The plant, which dates back to the 1960s, has around 1,000
employees.
It is one of 99 nuclear power plants licensed to operate in the
United States and which generate about 20 percent of U.S.
electricity use, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's
website.
(Reporting by Fiona Ortiz in Chicago; Editing by Chris Reese)
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