Exelon Braidwood Nuclear Facility

Braceville, Illinois
Will County

In the spring of 2005, the Illinois EPA contacted Exelon to investigate the storm water ditch that carries water to the west side of the site as a possible tritium source to groundwater. The shallow sand point well at the Godley Park District was sampled again in April of 2005. The result was below the detection limit for tritium (200 picocuries per liter (pCi/L)). At the time, tritium in the surface water in the ditch measured about 600 pCi/L. A picocurie is one trillionth of a curie. By comparison, 20,000 pCi/L is the maximum contaminant level that is allowed in public drinking water by federal regulations. During the summer of 2005, the Illinois EPA tested four private wells in Godley west of the ditch. All those results were below the detection limit for tritium.

In discussions with Exelon, the Illinois EPA was made aware of a November 2000 release from Vacuum Breaker #2 (VB2) on the pipeline that carries process water east to the Kankakee River. In 2005, three monitoring wells in the area of that vacuum breaker tested clean and one other tested at 400 pCi/liter. The Illinois EPA wanted to know whether this might be the source of the tritium found in the storm water ditch. The Illinois EPA requested and received, in the fall of 2005, a work plan from Exelon for a complete investigation to define the source of tritium in the ditch.

On November 30, 2005, Exelon informed the Illinois EPA that they would be sampling private wells in the area of Vacuum Breaker #3 (VB3) on the north side of the plant, where it was disclosed that another large release occurred in 1998.

On December 16, 2005, the Illinois EPA issued a violation notice to Exelon for the release at VB3 where observed contamination levels that either exceeded groundwater standards in some site monitoring wells, or threatened the use of area private wells. The Illinois EPA met with representatives from Exelon on December 20th. Exelon made a presentation of the information they had developed at that time and future investigation plans to define the extent of contamination from pipeline releases. Exelon indicated that tritium has not been introduced to the pipeline since November 23, 2005 and will not be introduced to the line until the line has been tested for leaks.

A second meeting was held between the Illinois EPA and Exelon on January 23, 2006. The Illinois EPA asked for information to assess the potential future threat to nearby wells through computer modeling.

On February 2, 2006, the Illinois EPA received a report from Exelon as part of the compliance commitment agreement. There will be an official compliance meeting on February 17 to evaluate the results of the investigation and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Private wells sampled to date:

(In most cases, Exelon split samples with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and levels of tritium were independently confirmed by those agencies.)

1. 14 private wells tested in December north of the plant along Smiley Road: All were non-detects for tritium except one well that showed 1524 pCi/liter. This is about eight percent of U.S. EPA’s comparison value for a safe level in public drinking water, which is 20,000 pCi/liter.
   
2. In mid-January, Exelon began contacting private well owners within 1000 feet north and south of the pipeline east to the Kankakee River to obtain access to sample their wells. To date, they have sampled 19 of 29 wells, and all results are non-detects for tritium.
   
3. Ditch area on the west side of the plant – Surface water samples in March, April and May 2005 showed levels of 539, 582 and 550 pCi/liter tritium, respectively. This was at the northernmost point of the ditch near a main entrance to the plant. Exelon has sampled standing water in the ditch weekly since early December 2005 – all non-detects. In addition, the Godley Park District shallow well was tested in March 2005 and four private water wells in Godley nearest the ditch were tested in June 2005 – all non-detects.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been provided with and has reviewed analytical results from private well tests near the Braidwood plant. They have not seen tritium levels in the well tests to date that pose a health hazard. The Illinois EPA will continue to work with IDPH to evaluate any potential health impacts and keep area residents informed.

The Illinois EPA is committed to protecting the groundwater of the state as a future drinking water resource. To this end, the Agency will use available enforcement tools, as appropriate, to assure that non-compliance issues are resolved with this site.

A complete investigation report is due soon from Exelon, and this will be available to the public through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

On March 16, 2006, the Illinois Attorney General and the Will County State’s Attorney filed a complaint against Exelon. Currently, these two offices are working with the Illinois EPA and Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to develop the steps that Exelon will need to take to fully investigate, mitigate and clean up contamination resulting from releases of tritium water.

The Illinois EPA has also worked with representatives in the Illinois State Legislature to develop House Bill 1620, which calls for reporting within 24 hours of any unpermitted release of a radionuclide to the Illinois EPA and IEMA as well as quarterly inspection authority for both agencies at nuclear generating plants in Illinois.

Has the investigation fully defined the groundwater contaminated at the plant?

While further work is being performed, the Illinois EPA believes that the plumes have been well defined. The larger plumes are situated on the northeast side of the plant. One of these plumes has migrated off-site to the north of Smiley Road.

Two other smaller plumes are located on the Will County Forest Preserve’s Braidwood Dunes (near vacuum breaker #4) and Sand Ridge Savanna Nature Preserve (near VB #7).

An investigation report is due in April and will be made available at a public repository at the Godley Park District.

Does a health hazard exist for residents in the area who are using private wells?

No data collected to date from private wells near the plant show tritium contamination levels greater than the maximum level that is established by U.S. EPA for safe drinking water. That comparison level is 20,000 Pico curies of radiation per liter of water (pCi/L). Well tests near the Braidwood plant have shown (except one well that is not being used for drinking water) results below or near the detection level for tritium, which is 200 (pCi/L). According to the interpretation by IDPH, results to date do not represent a health hazard to area residents.

However, under Illinois’ Groundwater and Environmental Protection Acts, the Illinois EPA is acting to protect the future safe use of groundwater by enforcing the provision against causing a threat to groundwater. For example, under these Acts, a “threat” exists if a contamination plume in groundwater is at a concentration level greater than what would be naturally-occurring and is moving toward a drinking water well.

Should I be concerned about the safety of the pond on my property? My children swim and fish in the pond. Does it need to be tested?

Unless your pond is located directly north of the plant between S. Center Street and Cemetery Road/Comet Drive, the Illinois EPA does not believe that it is necessary for you to have your pond tested for tritium. However, if you would feel more comfortable having it tested, that is an individual decision.

Residents have expressed concern about eating fish from Exelon’s cooling lake. Has that lake been impacted by the tritium releases?

No, the cooling lake for the generating plant has not been affected by tritium releases. The cooling lake was recently tested for tritium, and the result was below the detection limit. Other than the 25-acre pond just north of the plant (the direction of the larger groundwater plume), the Illinois EPA is not aware of contamination affecting any lakes or ponds in the area.

Residents are concerned about the ditch that runs along the west side of the plant. Various spills in the past followed the ditch, which is close to some residences in Godley. Is that ditch being monitored?

Yes, it is being routinely monitored for tritium in the ground- water via a shallow well next to the ditch near the plant entrance (on the northwest). Results of testing have shown no tritium in the groundwater near the ditch. Exelon is currently preventing surface water from entering the ditch.

Illinois EPA has sampled four private drinking water wells immediately adjacent to the ditch in June 2005 and has now compelled Exelon to sample all of the private wells in Godley.

What is the status of the enforcement case that the state of Illinois began with Exelon?

The Illinois Attorney General has filed a complaint on behalf of the Illinois EPA against Exelon for spills/leaks of tritium into groundwater. The Illinois Attorney General and the Will County State’s Attorney are working with the Illinois EPA and IEMA to develop steps that Exelon should take, including:

1. Discharge no radiation-waste water through the blowdown line (where leaks previously occurred), except under specific circumstances. To lower the 25-acre pond on the north side of the site, Exelon will be allowed to discharge water to the Kankakee River under very strict monitoring requirements;
2. Provide bottled water to all residences not on public water supply along the blowdown line and in Godley and where tritium has been detected in drinking water wells at a concentration greater than the detection level of 200 (pCi/L);
3. Conduct testing of private wells in Godley for tritium;
4. Establish a Groundwater Management Zone through a comprehensive investigation and development of corrective actions with Illinois EPA oversight ;
5. Disclose any information about other releases of tritium;
6. Maintain and implement a Community Relations Plan with Illinois EPA oversight;
7. Develop a public repository of documents related to the tritium releases and corrective actions; and
8. Reimburse the State of Illinois and Will County for costs incurred to respond to these spills/leaks.

Which residents will be provided with bottled water?

Exelon mailed out information on March 20 to residents in the area explaining that bottled water will be provided to residents of Godley and to residents within 1500 feet of the blowdown line (which goes to the Kanakakee River west of the plant). These residents may receive up to 20 gallons of water per week at Berkots grocery store in Braidwood.

What is the status of tritium recently found in the ditches along Center Street north of the facility?

On March 24, 2006, Exelon received test results on surface water from the ditches along Center Street that revealed tritium contamination at levels up to 1000 pico curies per liter. Exelon reported this to the state agencies that evening and has begun efforts to capture this water from the ditch with vacuum trucks. The tritiated water will be stored in tanks on the Braidwood Generating Plant property until plans are approved for disposing of the stored water.

Addtional Information

The Illinois EPA plans to work with the Godley Park District to establish an Information Repository for the convenience of area residents.

Exelon has more information on a web site about the tritium issue at www.BraidwoodTritium.info. 

Illinois EPA Radiation and Groundwater webpage.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Illinois EPA Office of Community Relations. Additional documents not available on this webpage may be obtained through a FOIA request or through IEPA Document Explorer.