Expert: Shut It Down, or Expect Worse Than Tritium

by: Dean Barker

Wed Feb 10, 2010 at 20:31:58 PM EST

Gundersen said the leak of radioactive tritium at Vermont Yankee may soon be followed by releases of other, more dangerous materials if the plant keeps operating.

(Gundersen) Tritium moves like water in a stream. And the other isotopes move like stones tumbling down the river. They move at a slower rate through the soil than the tritium. So the tritium is the first warning, but it's not clear until they get close to the leak that it's the only thing in the soil.

...Gundersen says he's concerned about other radioactive materials such as Cobalt 60 leaking into the ground. He said if the plant stops operating, tritium and these other materials will no longer escape into the environment.

I find that to be a remarkable statement, given this paragraph from Governor Lynch's call for an investigation of Vermont Yankee:

Last month New Hampshire was made aware of elevated levels of tritium discovered in groundwater monitoring wells at the plant.  Entergy had previously told Vermont officials that there was no underground piping carrying water that could contain radioactivity.  However, in the search for the source of contamination, we learned that, in fact, a leak of underground piping containing tritiated water could be involved.

Gov. Lynch Calls for Investigation of Vermont Yankee

Governor Today Sent Letter to Chairman of Nuclear Regulatory Commission

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today sent the following letter to the chairman of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner asking for a full investigation into the recent tritium leak and overall operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant:

February 10, 2010

The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko

Chairman

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC  20555-0001

Dear Chairman Jaczko:

I want to share my deep concerns about the operation and safety of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power plant owned by Entergy Corporation, and to strongly urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to thoroughly investigate the safety and management of the plant before affirming an extension of its license.

Last month New Hampshire was made aware of elevated levels of tritium discovered in groundwater monitoring wells at the plant.  Entergy had previously told Vermont officials that there was no underground piping carrying water that could contain radioactivity.  However, in the search for the source of contamination, we learned that, in fact, a leak of underground piping containing tritiated water could be involved.

In addition to Entergy's previous denials about underground piping, the NRC's Environmental Impact Statement from August 2007 did not mention this as a risk or problem.  NRC's Safety Evaluation Report of May 2008, in fact, concluded that there was no cause for concern with the plant's condensate systems.

These revelations lead me to question the credibility of Entergy and its ability to safely manage the plant.  They also lead me to conclude that the NRC must undertake an additional and thorough investigation into the Vermont Yankee plant.

As you are aware, the Vermont Yankee plant is located on the bank of the Connecticut River, a New Hampshire waterway, which runs between New Hampshire and Vermont.  Many New Hampshire communities fall within the emergency planning zone for the plant, and the plant releases cooling water into the Connecticut River.  While the NRC and plant officials assert that the current situation does not pose a health risk, I am concerned on a broader level about the safety of this aging power plant, as well as the ability of Entergy to manage safety risks in the future.

I therefore request that the NRC undertake a full investigation of the tritium release and of the overall operation of the plant.  I understand that a twenty-year license extension for the plant by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) has been appealed to the Commission.  New Hampshire participated in that proceeding as an "interested State."  Before you consider that appeal, it is essential that you undertake a thorough investigation into the current and future safety and management concerns of the plant, and of the valid concerns raised by the states.

I would like to thank the NRC for keeping New Hampshire informed over the past weeks and I look forward to continued communication as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

                                                                                   John H. Lynch

                                                                                   Governor