LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Federal regulators are asking for more information as they try to determine if the damaged San Onofre nuclear power plant should be restarted.
The twin reactors between Los Angeles and San Diego haven't produced electricity since January, after a tiny radiation leak led to the discovery of excessive wear on hundreds of steam generator tubes that carry radioactive water.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials Wednesday asked Southern California Edison for more analysis on how tubes would interact with each other if a reactor is running at full power.
Each generator has thousands of tubes.
The inquiry represents a possible hurdle as Edison seeks to restart Unit 2 at reduced power. Edison believes that will end damaging vibration.
The NRC says tubes must retain "structural integrity" under a "full range" of conditions.
