Washington (Platts)--30Apr2009

Tritium leaks have been located and stopped at Oyster Creek, Exelon
Nuclear said in an April 30 statement. Two "small" leaks in underground pipes
are "believed to be a main source" of water containing tritium that was
discovered April 17 in monitoring wells at the plant. The pipes are being
replaced, and other pipes and a water storage tank nearby are being inspected,
the company said. The highest level detected, in a well sample taken last
week, was six million picocuries per liter. The federal Environmental
Protection Agency's tritium limit for drinking water is 20,000 picocuries per
liter. Daily samples of water from Oyster Creek's intake and discharge canals
have shown no detectable levels of tritium, and none was detected in an onsite
drinking water well, Exelon Nuclear spokesman David Benson said April 30.
Oyster Creek is in daily communication with the NRC and the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection and is conducting all sampling the
agencies request, Benson said. Tim Rausch, Oyster Creek site vice president,
said in the statement that "at no time has there been a threat to employees or
public health and safety."