VY and Water #2
House Fish Wildlife and Water Resources Committee continues to follow the impact on water at the Vermont Yankee plant. Health Commissioner Wendy Davis stated that the most striking development was the identification of tritium at much much higher levels. She felt this really underscores their concern with the need to find the leak and take action. Again, she reported no contaminated drinking water at this time.
Dr. William Irwin, radiological health chief, presented us with a map identifying various wells on the VY site. The map identifies 4 contaminated GZ well sites with the G-7 site recently measuring at 775,000 picocuries (the limit for drinking water is 20,000). Of the 7 sites tested for tritium leaks around the country, this is the second highest ever reported, with the highest being 800,000 (71,000 200,000 300,000 and 600,000 being other high levels for comparison purposes). As this site is very close to the river, to active farms and a school, reports at this level of concentration raises this to a very serious public health issue. The half-life of tritium is 12+ years. It is not inconceivable that this could have happened long ago at much higher levels.
The G-7 site is in a courtyard of sorts between the reactor, turbine and the condensation storage tank. The condensation storage tank is the largest container of radioactive water and is used by multiple systems. It is the most densely piped and plumbed part of the site and is in the middle of all key structures for generating electrical energy, nuclear power radioactive waste and other processes. Although there is some progress in narrowing down the geographic site, ruling out the condensation tank as a source means that now they need to look at the many individual pipes one by one. This becomes even more challenging given that it is an active facility with electrical cables, ventilating systems, and dense piping of which some are radioactive and some not. This will require very deliberate planning in order to avoid a mistake to individuals that do the work as well as safe operation of plant.
Dr. Irwin reported that a radiological sampling team has been formed, made up of members of the Agency of Natural Resources, Agency of Agriculture and Department of Health. Training and security screening are in process and they should be ready to go next week. (Note: the screening is a bit beyond the visitors’ screening many of us underwent last year. Visitor screening looks at what you’ve been up to recently, while this level reviews your life!)
Dr. Davis was asked what her authority was should the plant escalate to levels that put public health at risk. She stated that her authority lies in the allowable limits stated in radiologic health rules. Depending on where she is in the investigation, depending on what other data are required, she has the authority to ask that the suite of steps be taken in order to take what is “prudent caution.” She stays in constant contact with the town health officers of the 6 surrounding towns as well as her NH and MA partners.