Feds downgrade Palisades nuclear plant

COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) - Federal regulators say the Palisades nuclear power plant in southwestern Michigan has been downgraded and will undergo an extra inspection.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says faulty maintenance by plant employees caused a water pump shutdown last May. The plant is near Lake Michigan in Van Buren County's Covert Township.

The Kalamazoo Gazette says nuclear plants are placed in one of five grade levels. The lower the ranking, the more inspections it gets. Palisades was moved from the top category to the No. 2 category.

Plant spokesman Mark Savage says Palisades and the commission will determine a date for the additional inspection.

The commission says it's also investigating two other incidents at the plant in 2011, including an electrical fault during maintenance. That could result in another downgrade.