Radiation and Groundwater

While working with the Exelon Dresden nuclear plant in 2004, where tritium was detected in on-site wells, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) became aware of the potential for tritium contamination in groundwater at this type of facility. The Illinois EPA takes very seriously the contamination of the groundwater of the state by radionuclides from nuclear power generating plants. As a result, the Illinois EPA proceeded with enforcement action against the facilities responsible for the releases. To provide information about the groundwater impacts, the Illinois EPA established this webpage.

Groundwater is a precious resource of the state of Illinois, and the Illinois EPA is charged with protecting the groundwater and the citizens who rely on it for their source of drinking water. The reporting process that was in place for the nuclear generating station operators to notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Illinois Emergency Management Agency were not adequate to keep the Illinois EPA informed of such spills and releases that threaten the state’s groundwater resources.

As a result, Public Act 94-0849 was signed on June 11, 2006, which requires nuclear plants to report unpermitted radioactive releases. The law also required rules to be developed to specify requirements for detecting and reporting unpermitted radioactive releases. Those rules are specified in 35 Il. Adm. Code 1010, which became effective May 2, 2008.

Excelon Braidwood Nuclear Facility Fact Sheet:

• Exelon Braidwood Nuclear Facility
  While working with the Exelon Dresden nuclear power plant in the fall of 2004, where tritium was detected in on-site wells, the Illinois EPA became aware of the potential for tritium contamination in groundwater at this type of facility. 

News Releases:

• Illinois EPA Meets With Exelon Nuclear To Discuss Contamination of Illinois Groundwater
• Illinois EPA Enforces Groundwater Contamination Laws

Facts About Tritium:

• Facts About Tritium
  (United States Environmental Protection Agency)

Unpermitted Radioactive Release Reports:

• LaSalle County Station - July 1, 2010
• Dresden Nuclear Power Station - June 9, 2014
• Braidwood Station - June 12, 2017
  • Braidwood Station - Initial Report
  • Braidwood Station - Initial Report (Rev 2)
  • Braidwood Station - Five Day Report

• Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station - March 29, 2018
  • Quad Cities - Initial Report
  • Quad Cities - Follow-Up Report

• Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station - March 10, 2021
  • Quad Cities - Initial Report

• Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station - July 3, 2023
  • Quad Cities - Initial Report    
  • Quad Cities - Follow-up Report

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 Freedom of Information Act request or through IEPA Document Explorer.