Asbestos incident at Surry plant probed

The state Department of Labor and Industry is investigating a claim of asbestos exposure at Surry Power Station.

The claim was made by a contractor working with the station's owner, Dominion Virginia Power, to refuel one of two nuclear reactors.

It was made some time — neither Dominion nor state officials would say when — after April 16, when a tornado knocked out power to the station. Backup generators kicked on to prevent the release of harmful radiation.

"We're looking into it, yes," said department spokeswoman Jennifer Wester, who declined to elaborate pending results of the investigation.

Hundreds of contractors from multiple companies have been working at the station to refuel the reactor, a process that usually takes a month. Some are replacing turbines, which are kept in a building separate from the reactors, Dominion spokesman Rick Zuercher said.

Dominion suspended work after a contractor complained the area might not be safe. Zuercher said a "team of experts" determined that asbestos levels did not exceed standards set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Work has since resumed, he said.

Asbestos was commonly used as an insulator and fire retardant in building materials and heat-resistant gaskets and coatings, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Left alone, it usually does not harm humans. But when disturbed, microscopic fibers can enter the lungs and, after continuous exposure, can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Most products that contained asbestos were banned and phased out of usage in the 1990s, according to the EPA.