Yankee contamination worsens

From the Rutland Herald:

The level of radioactive tritium is continuing to rise in the monitoring well at Vermont Yankee, and is now just below reportable drinking water standards, a representative from Entergy Nuclear said Friday. The level of tritium in the well was measured Thursday at 19,800 picocuries per liter, up from the 17,000 picocuries per liter last week, according to Robert Williams, spokesman for Entergy Nuclear. Williams said the new reading was still below reportable limits by 200 picocuries per liter. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has set a standard of 20,000 picocuries per liter. The level of tritium in the well has steadily risen since mid-November, when a test first showed tritium. The November level was 700 parts per liter, and then jumped to 17,000 and 14,500 parts per liter in two tests last week.

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