By Greg Clary

BUCHANAN - Radioactive strontium 90 has spread to a third well at Indian Point and has been found at levels three times the amount allowed in drinking water -- within 150 feet of the Hudson River.

Officials for Entergy Nuclear Northeast, which owns Indian Point, released the test results Tuesday, noting a strong likelihood the radioactive isotope is reaching the Hudson River.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed the findings, adding Indian Point is the only nuclear power plant in the nation leaking strontium 90. The agency oversees 103 U.S. plants.

"Clearly, these are different findings than we've seen, but they're not near any drinking water supplies," said Jim Steets, a spokesman for Entergy Nuclear Northeast. "It still remains that there's no public health threat here."

NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan confirmed the numbers Tuesday as well as the lack of a threat to public health at the levels found so far.

The leak is coming from a spent fuel pool about 300 feet from the river, company engineers have said. The 400,000-gallon pool uses water to cool the fuel rods that generate electricity.

Scientists also identified in the samples from Feb. 27 elevated levels of tritium and nickel 63, both of which emit low levels of radiation, company officials said. NRC tests showed similar results.

Substance is dangerous

David Lochbaum, a nuclear safety engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the concentrations of strontium raise concerns despite being contained to the plant's grounds and not showing up in drinking water wells.

"The clue to the health concerns is in the (Environmental Protection Agency's) limits," Lochbaum said. "For tritium, it's 20,000 picocuries per liter of water versus strontium, which is only 8 picocuries per liter."

The latest results show well No. 37, the testing area closest to the Hudson River on a straight line west from the spent fuel pool, showed strontium levels ranging as high 26.4 picocuries per liter. Amounts at other wells were less than 2 picocuries per liter.

Lochbaum said the volume of water of the Hudson River diminishes the impact on water in the area because it dilutes whatever comes into it. He did acknowledge there is potential for the strontium to settle into the river's bottom, which would harm the environment.

Riverkeeper is critical

Riverkeeper, the environmental organization that works to protect the health of the Hudson River, said the unmonitored releases are unacceptable regardless of the river's ability to clean itself.

"Clearly the NRC, Entergy and the state have grossly underestimated the gravity of the radioactive contamination at Indian Point," said Lisa Rainwater van Suntum, Riverkeeper's Indian Point campaign director. "If this were a safely operating nuclear facility, it wouldn't be polluting the Hudson River and our environment with one of the most deadly toxins on Earth. Isn't it time the NRC and Entergy stop trying to defend this leaky, decaying plant?"

County officials in the plants' shadow also expressed concerns.

Susan Tolchin, chief adviser to Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, said the releases of information have the public on a bit of roller-coaster ride.

"First there is (strontium 90), then there isn't, then there is," Tolchin said. "Who do you believe? What's wrong with this picture? Who's watching the store?"

Greg Clary can be reached at gclary@lohud.com

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