Buchanan - Owners of the Indian Point nuclear power station feel certain they have found the source of a strontium 90 leak that is contaminating ground water beneath the plant.

Jim Steets, a spokesman for Entergy Nuclear Northeast, said water samples have confirmed the leak is originating from the Indian Point 1 spent fuel pool. That reactor was shut down in the 1970s, but its old fuel rods remain.

"We have a very high degree of confidence that the strontium 90 is coming from the IP1 spent fuel pool," Steets said.

Since August, strontium 90 and tritium, another radioactive isotope, have been found in some of the wells dug to monitor the contamination. The discovery was made after cracks were found in the Indian Point 2 fuel pool.

Steets said plant officials are still looking for the source of the tritium.

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/05/12/news-2ndpage6brief-05-12.html

Greg Bruno