Illinois EPA Issues Violation Notice to Exelon Cordova

SPRINGFIELD  -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued a violation notice to Exelon Generation - Quad City Station due to a release of tritium from its facility in Cordova.

 

On October 12, 2007, Exelon Generation reported an ongoing release of water containing tritium that had leaked from an underground pipe, causing groundwater contamination in excess of the state standard.  The leak was identified as part of a study being conducted by Exelon Generation to verify the integrity of its system.

 

The release was disclosed to the Illinois EPA as the result of an amendment to the Environmental Protection Act requiring nuclear power plants to report releases to groundwater, surface water, or soil to the state environmental and emergency management agencies. The Illinois EPA must be notified in cases where the release could migrate off-site and threaten private wells or private property.  The Agency would ensure the public is notified.  According to available data, the contaminated groundwater has not migrated off site, and there is no public health concern. 

 

Exelon Generation has 45 days to respond to the notice, and propose corrective actions to the Agency.  The response should include a monitoring plan and a proposal to determine the source of the leak.

 

Exelon has investigated the source of the leak and is beginning to clean up the contamination in order to minimize the impact to the environment.  Ongoing monitoring and pipeline testing are part of the work being done now at the site.  The affected area is estimated to be about 1000 square feet.

 

With the new law in place, the public is better informed of this type of release from a nuclear generating site.