Plymouth’s Nuclear Advisory Panel In Disagreement Over Alleged Dangers Of Radioactive Substance Tritium

Scientist Jim Conca failed to assuage fears of the radioactive substance, found in Plymouth’s decommissioned nuclear power plant.

The monthly meeting of the Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (NDCAP) descended into a brief chaos as potential dangers of radioactive substance tritium were discussed.

Scientist Jim Conca, who was invited by NDCAP to dispel fears of the radionuclide, was met with shouts of “propaganda!” from members of the public.

NDCAP oversees the decommission of Plymouth’s now-defunct nuclear power plant, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, where high levels of tritium have been detected in leftover nuclear wastewater.

The Pilgrim power plant currently houses 1.1 million gallons of wastewater. The water is tritiated, meaning it is made up of radioactive tritium atoms.

While other pollutants in nuclear wastewater—both radioactive and not—can be removed by various filtration methods, tritium cannot. This makes the decision of what to do with the wastewater all the more important. 

Holtec Decommissioning International, the nuclear power company that owns the Pilgrim power plant, announced last November a tentative plan to release that wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.

Holtec’s decision has been met with fierce opposition by Plymouth residents of all ages. Timothy Bennett Jr., an 11 year old boy scout, began the meeting with a message to Holtec.

“I don’t want to be another one of those lab rats that dies in twenty years from an illness caused by something that some company dumped into our ocean because it was cheaper than the right option,” he said.

According to Conca, however, tritium is of little concern. 

Tritium is a hydrogen atom which emits beta particles. While it occurs naturally in low concentrations, it is produced at higher rates as a byproduct of nuclear power. 

Despite that fact, Conca maintains that tritium amounts produced by nuclear plants aren’t high enough to do harm.

“The scientific community has never observed any humans or organisms in the environment to have been harmed by tritium at any level, from any source,” Conca said. 

Critics of Holtec, who oppose dumping the Pilgrim power plant’s wastewater, remained unswayed by Conca’s assertions. At one point during his presentation, the crowd descended into an unintelligible shouting match.

“You’re screwing all of us commercial fishermen!” said one audience member, in a response to Conca’s claim that tritium does not concentrate up the food chain.

Others questioned whether Holtec’s proposed dumping is legal. Attorney James Lampert cited the Clean Water Act and the Ocean Sanctuary Act, both of which limit what pollutants can be discarded and where. 

The Ocean Sanctuary Act prohibits the dumping of commercial or industrial waste into protected ocean sanctuaries. Cape Cod Bay was established as an ocean sanctuary when the law first took effect in 1970. 

“Holtec are very clear: There will be non-radioactive pollutants released. No treatment system is perfect,” said Lampert.

He reiterated sentiments made by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who has previously vowed to halt any illegal dumping of the wastewater.

Holtec has yet to come to an official decision on what will be done with the Pilgrim power plant’s leftover nuclear wastewater. Three other options are currently being considered: Transporting it to another facility for disposal, evaporating the water and releasing it as vapor, and storing it onsite indefinitely.

“Holtec continues to explore all options for the safe and efficient removal of materials from the site,” said Holtec in a statement on their website.