ML24320A014
| ML24320A014 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/15/2024 |
| From: | William Rautzen NRC/NRR/DRA/ARCB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24320A014 (3) | |
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1 LIST OF LEAKS AND SPILLS AT OPERATING U.S. COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS November 15, 2024 INTRODUCTION This is a list of operating reactor sites that experienced a radioactive leak or spill to the onsite owner controlled area where the concentration of tritium in the leak source, or in a groundwater sample exceeded 20,000 pCi/L at some time since initial startup. A tritium concentration of 20,000 pCi/L is used as the threshold for inclusion in the list because it is the drinking water standard in Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) Safe Drinking Water Act. This version updates the October 2023 list of leaks and spills.
SOURCE OF INFORMATION Recent information was compiled by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff based on input from the nuclear power plant staff, Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Reports and Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Reports (see the NRCs web site for each sites detailed annual reports at https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-experience/tritium/plant-info.html). Historical information is based on Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Reports, Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Reports, Groundwater Questionnaires, Preliminary Notifications, Event Notifications, Licensee Event Reports, NRC Inspection Reports, Special Reports, and other documents submitted by the licensees to the NRC.
CONTENTS After a radioactive leak or spill, tritium is generally the first radionuclide to be identified in groundwater. This is because tritium travels as a form of water through the soil faster than other radionuclides. The tritium concentrations for each plant documented in the list below consist of (1) the historical maximum concentration and (2) the current concentration. These values provide a reasonable approximation of the magnitude and extent of the historical leaks and spills as well as the current conditions.
The value listed as the Historical Maximum Concentration of Tritium in a Leak Source or in a Groundwater Sample is an approximation of the historical maximum tritium concentration from abnormal releases in which tritium from reactor operations contacted the onsite soil since initial startup. The timeframe in which the historical maximum tritium releases occurred is listed next to the maximum concentration value.
The value listed as the Current Maximum Groundwater Sample Tritium Concentration is a reasonable approximation of the current maximum tritium concentrations based on reported abnormal releases to onsite groundwater, or groundwater samples that have been collected and analyzed by the licensee. If a value has not been updated from the one listed in the previous version, it indicates the value continues to be a good approximation of the current conditions.
As documented in the licensee annual reports, groundwater samples were collected from onsite locations and analyzed including both drinking water wells and non-drinking water sample points (e.g., groundwater monitoring wells, storm drains, man holes, bore holes, piezometer tubes,
2 surface water, puddles, and rain water). Although some values in the list exceed 20,000 pCi/L, none of those samples were collected from a drinking water well or from a municipal drinking water system. None of the samples collected from drinking water wells and municipal drinking water systems have ever exceeded the EPA drinking water standard of 20,000 pCi/L.
SUMMARY
There are 54 nuclear power plant sites in the United States that are currently operating. Historical records indicate 37 of these sites have at one time or another had leaks or spills that involved tritium concentrations greater than or equal to 20,000 pCi/L. Six sites are currently reporting tritium in groundwater, from a leak or spill, in excess of 20,000 pCi/L. No site is currently detecting tritium in groundwater in the offsite environment, or in drinking water, in excess of 20,000 pCi/L.
Tritium rapidly disperses and dissipates in the environment, and as a result, tritium from leaks and spills is typically not detected outside the facility boundary.
List of Historical Leaks and Spills at Operating U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants It is important that the preceding paragraphs accompany any reproduction of this list so that the information is communicated in the proper context.
November 15, 2024 Updates Plant Historical Maximum Concentration of Tritium in a Leak Source or in a Groundwater Sample, pCi/L Timeframe of Historical Maximum Concentration of Tritium in a Leak Source or in a Groundwater Sample, pCi/L Current Maximum Groundwater Sample Tritium Concentration, pCi/L Beaver Valley 25,583 September, 2010 11,075 Braidwood 247,000 1998 724 Browns Ferry 36,444 March, 2016 2,550 Brunswick 19,000,000 December, 2010 63,500 Byron 82,000 February, 2006 380 Callaway 1,600,000 July, 2014 370 Catawba 47,500 October, 2007 2,320 Columbia 270,000 March, 1993 10,500 Davis-Besse 37,500 October, 2008 420 Dresden 10,312,000 July, 2004 6,280 Fitzpatrick, J.A.
105,000 April, 2010 355 Ginna, R.E.
20,000 1995 268 Grand Gulf 2,240,000 March, 2014 5,990 Hatch, E.I.
6,840,000 September, 2011 973,400 Limerick 3,950,000 February, 2009 3,270 LaSalle 1,230,000 July, 2010 3,940 Millstone 4,000,000 November, 2007 2,240
3 Plant Historical Maximum Concentration of Tritium in a Leak Source or in a Groundwater Sample, pCi/L Timeframe of Historical Maximum Concentration of Tritium in a Leak Source or in a Groundwater Sample, pCi/L Current Maximum Groundwater Sample Tritium Concentration, pCi/L Monticello 4,220,000 November, 2022 208,000 Nine Mile Point 44,000 August, 2012
<199 North Anna 79,559 August, 2013 4,428 Oconee 45,000 December, 2011 3,290 Palo Verde 4,200,000 March, 1993
<360 Peach Bottom 196,000 March, 2010 1,680 Perry 59,900 2006 217 Quad Cities 7,500,000 2008 735,000 River Bend 1,135,000 February, 2013 230,000 Salem 15,000,000 April, 2003 68,100 Seabrook 750,000 1999
<554 Sequoyah 25,060 2015 13,800 St. Lucie 161,000 2000 4,150 Summer 23,000 July, 2011 2,000 Surry 31,900 October, 2007 10,400 Susquehanna
>20,000 1995 207 Turkey Point
>20,000 1979 2,930 Vogtle
>20,000 1990s 240 Waterford 22,000 1997
<509 Watts Bar 550,000 February, 2005 13,100