Business Notes NUCLEAR SAFETY

Sleeping on the job is rarely productive, but in the control room of a nuclear power plant it can spell catastrophe. For that reason, officials of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission took swift action last week. While investigating a tip, they learned that control-room operators and supervisors at the Peach Bottom nuclear plant near Delta, Pa., have been regularly sleeping at the switch for at least the past five months. Calling the power station, which is 35 miles northeast of Baltimore, an "immediate threat to the public health and safety," NRC officials ordered the plant shut down -- the first such action taken by the agency because of operator deficiencies.

Philadelphia Electric runs two reactors at Peach Bottom, one of which had been shut down for refueling at the time of the NRC order. The utility now has to show why the plant should be allowed to go back on-line. A spokesman said the company is investigating the charges.