On Monday, August 14, 2006, Southern
California Edison (
SCE) made a voluntary communication to
California State and Local government agencies regarding water samples taken during on-going Unit 1 decommissioning activities. During the week of August 7, 2006, water samples were found to have
tritium levels ranging from 50,000 -- 330,000 picoCuries/liter. No permits were violated.
It was thought that the contamination may be attributed to historical events during Unit 1 operation (Unit 1 ceased commercial operation in 1992). SCE is investigating the source of the tritium and, as part of decommissioning, will remediate the contamination. The groundwater beneath SONGS is not a source of drinking water.
The NRC Resident Inspectors have been notified of this occurrence and will be provided with a copy of this report.
