Vermont Yankee reports new well with elevated tritium levels

Vermont Yankee reported late Monday afternoon that two of the new monitoring wells the nuclear power plant just installed have tested positive for the radioactive isotope tritium. The three new monitoring wells were installed to complement the three drilled in 2007. Confirmed analysis from the new wells show tritium concentration is at 70,500 picocuries per liter in the nearest new well about 75 feet to the south of the well where tritium was first noted several weeks ago.
At a new well about 100 feet further south, the tritium is at a much lower concentration of 1,840 picocuries per liter. Two other monitoring wells to the north, and one to the south, show no elevated levels. The purpose of the monitoring wells is to characterize the tritium concentrations in the ground water to aid in the investigation. Yankee spokesman Robert Williams issued a statement saying this is useful information that will help engineers working to identify the source of tritium in the plant’s groundwater.
Engineers are planning six more wells around the plant buildings to gather further data on the location of the highest tritium concentration and to focus the investigation on the possible source. Williams said that while the multi-disciplined technical team continues to investigate the source of the tritium, he said it is important to note that there has been no elevated tritium level found in any drinking water well samples or in Connecticut River water. The existence of tritium in such low levels does not present a risk to public health or safety whatsoever, he said.
Tritium is a radioactive form of hydrogen that occurs naturally and is also a byproduct of nuclear plant operation. The Environmental Protection Agency has set safe drinking water levels of tritium at 20,000 picocuries per liter.
The Vernon plant is seeking approval from the state to relicense the plant another 20 years beyond 2012, when it is scheduled to be decommissioned. The Legislature must first approve the license extension before the Vermont Public Service Board ultimately rules on the case. Vermont Yankee owner Entergy is also seeking to spin the plant off, with five other older nuclear power plants, into a new company called Enexus.
Source: Vermont Yankee. 2.1.2010