Tackling tritium

Exelon Nuclear is launching an initiative across its ten-station nuclear fleet to assess systems that handle tritium and take the necessary actions to minimise the risk of inadvertent discharge of tritium to the environment.

The assessments will take place in 2006 and will cover pipes, pumps, valves, tanks and other pieces of equipment that carry tritiated water in and around the plants.

According to a statement, the initiative is intended to significantly reduce the possibility of a tritium release of the type that occurred in the past involving the lake “blowdown” line at Braidwood Generating Station near Braceville, Ill. While the Braidwood leak poses no health or safety threat to the environment or the public, “we recognise that inadvertent releases are unacceptable and we are committed to eliminating them,” said Exelon Nuclear Chief Operating Officer Charles Pardee.

Exelon said the initiative will also establish new standards for inspections, responses to, and remediation of tritium releases that have the potential to affect the environment or the public.