ML11308A669

E-mail from S. Garry, NRR to C. Clemons-Webb, NRR; Subject: Plant Hatch - New Leak for the Information Notice

ML11308A669
Person / Time
Site:	Hatch
Issue date:	10/03/2011
From:	Steven Garry Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Clemons-Webb C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
FOIA/PA-2012-0004
Download: ML11308A669 (1)

Text

Clemons-Webb, Candace From: Garry, Steven Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 1:10 PM To: Clemons-Webb, Candace

Subject:

Plant Hatch - new leak for the Information notice Tritiated Water Leak Reported At Plant Hatch. The AP (9/30, Henry) reported on Southern Company's announcement that radioactive "water has been found underneath" Plant Hatch "in southeast Georgia, but officials said Friday that the leak does not pose an immediate threat to public health and is unlikely to contaminate any drinking water." Southern Co. learned of the leak Wednesday "when it identified radioactive tritium in two test wells about 25 feet below the ground, said Dennis Madison, a utility vice president who oversees the plant." According to Madison, Southern Co., hoped to "identify the source of the leak no later than Sunday afternoon" and have it repaired early next week. The "maximum concentrations of tritium reported inside the wells was more than 200 times the limit set by the US Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water," according to a report that Southern Co. filed with the NRC. The AP (10/3) ran an abbreviated version of its coverage as well.

WXIA-TV & Atlanta (10/1, 6:41 a.m., EDT) broadcast, "Officials are trying to find the source of a leak after radioactive water was discovered underneath a nuclear plant in southeast Georgia. Atlanta-based Southern Company which owns Plant Hatch in Baxley says radioactive tritium was found Wednesday in two test wells.

Tritium is a radioactive a form of hydrogen. Southern Company officials say workers have been digging under the plant to locate the source of the leak. They say the leak is not an immediate health threat to the public."

WTOC-TVb Savannah, Georgia (9/30, 11:03 p.m., EDT) also covered this story.

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