VERNON, Vt. (AP) – The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant reduced power production by 60 percent Thursday after finding a leak of “mildly radioactive” water in a pipe that supplies water for steam generation in the reactor.

It was the second leak discovered in the nuclear power plant’s water system in the last few weeks. On Wednesday, the plant announced it could repair a water leak in a different section of the plant without reducing power.

Plant spokesman Rob Williams said the leak discovered by a technician Thursday was more pressing than the earlier leak.

None of the water that leaked was released into the environment.

“The water is processed and is eventually reused in the reactor,” Williams said. “We don’t release radioactive water from the plant.”

The latest leak was of about 60 drops a minute from a 24-inch pipe. It was discovered during a routine inspection, Williams said.

Plant operators began reducing power about 12:10 p.m.

“We’re talking about 60 drops a minute, we’re not talking about a lot at this point,” said Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Neil Sheehan.

The other leak, from a valve gasket from a 4-inch water pipe, was discovered over the holidays.

Sheehan said NRC inspectors were monitoring the repairs to both leaks.

Williams said he didn’t know how long it would take to repair the leak discovered Thursday.

The earlier leak of – also “slightly radioactive” – water is scheduled to be repaired next week, Williams said. He said the pipe, which carries 130 gallons per minute, was losing 2.5 gallons per minute, although the water in the system is automatically replenished.

AP-ES-01-08-09 1820EST