Feb 9 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Chris Garofolo Brattleboro Reformer, Vt.


State health officials reported Monday that tritium levels at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant monitoring wells remained comparable with testing reported during the weekend.

An update in the investigation found samples from the well located near the drain line results similar to Saturday's test when Vermont Yankee officials reported the ground water monitoring well measured 2.45 million picocuries per liter for tritium, or about three times the concentration found on Friday.

Monday's samples were measured at about 2.38 million picocuries per liter.

The 2.45 million picocuries of tritium is approaching that of reactor process water, typically measured at 2.9 million.

 According to the health department, the concentrations of tritium -- a nuclear fusion by-product that occurs naturally in very low concentrations -- indicate more than one source is leaking the contaminated water into the ground.

Plant officials are preparing to excavate in the area near the well to inspect the underground piping, as well as a concrete pipe duct that contains an off-gas drain line.

Furthermore, there are at least two additional drain lines from the off-gas moisture separators in the vicinity that have drawn interest during the investigation. This news will require extensive preparations to implement safety and radiological controls because of the nature of the plant's service systems in the excavation area.

Vermont Yankee

notified health officials on Jan. 7 that ground water samples contained tritium, signifying an unintended underground release of radioactive material.

Chris Garofolo can be reached at cgarofolo@reformer.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 275.

(c) 2010, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services