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Entergy Reports There is No Tritium from Indian Point in Buchanan Sewage System
June 1, 2007
Buchanan, New York- Entergy has notified local public officials and federal and local regulators and health agencies that possible indications of tritium in the sewer lines at Indian Point reported in early May have proven to be incorrect. Entergy cautioned then that sampling for tritium at extremely low levels, as is being done in the sampling program at Indian Point, could sometimes lead to "false positives," but that Entergy would pursue verifying the validity of the sampling and investigate the possible sources.
Entergy re-analyzed samples taken in early May that produced the false positives and determined they were negative for tritium. Samples also were sent to an outside laboratory which confirmed the re-analyzed negative results seen in the Indian Point lab.
Entergy workers also inspected potential sources inside the plants that could have provided a pathway for the tritium. An examination of plant drawings and physical infrastructure inspections showed there is no pathway for the radioactive materials to get off site through the sewage system.
Don Mayer, special projects director, says, "The false positives were most likely the result of interference due to some organic materials and chemicals commonly found in sanitary sewers. When analyzing at very low levels occasional false positives can occur. In addition, the outside laboratory advises us that they have seen low-energy interferences that initially suggest positive tritium results and can take steps to account for it."
In the later samples, the apparent tritium indication had disappeared in just a few days. An actual or real tritium result would continue well beyond a few days since tritium has a 12.3 years half-life.
Tritium is a low energy-emitting radioactive isotope found naturally in the environment and a byproduct of the fission process in commercial nuclear reactors.
No tritium has been seen above background levels in any of the numerous samples taken outside of the Indian Point property, including the Buchanan sewage treatment plant and other nearby properties.
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