Entergy reports tritium leak at Indian Point

Entergy released updated findings from follow up groundwater tests at the Indian Point nuclear power plant that confirm anticipated fluctuations in tritium levels. These levels continue to pose no threat to public health or safety. Tritium is a weak radioactive isotope of hydrogen.

The most recent samples from onsite groundwater monitoring wells show elevated levels of tritium from the first readings — with the highest concentration rising by about 80 percent, fluctuations that can be expected as the material migrates.

Even with the new readings, there is no impact to public health or safety, and although these values remain less than one-tenth of one percent of federal reporting guidelines, Entergy again made voluntary notification to the NRC, state agencies and other key stakeholders.

Samples will continue to be taken regularly from the monitoring wells, in accordance with Indian Point’s procedures.

Entergy, assisted by outside third-party experts, continues to investigate the source of the elevated tritium concentrations – with the likely cause related to the processing of water in preparation for a regularly scheduled refueling outage at the plant’s Unit 2 reactor. Workers are inspecting the pump and drainage systems associated with those recent preparations, which were completed in January, to determine the most likely pathway for that water to have reached the ground.