Holtec, Tritium, and Cape Cod Bay

Does it matter if radioactive water evaporates? Flows into Cape Cod Bay? What's the story about tritium anyway? Holtec's latest raises these questions ... and more.

What is happening at Pilgrim plant?

27 June 2024 - CAPE COD, MA - Holtec International, the New Jersey based company holding the contract to manage Plymouth's Pilgrim nuclear power plant decommissioning - has put tritium on the table. It says heating radioactive water to evaporate it or releasing it into Cape Cod Bay are "standard practice" - but not everyone agrees.

What is Holtec doing?

All radioactive water and fuel on the Pilgrim Power Plant site must be removed as part of the decommission process, a process now expected to run through 2035.  Last year, Holtec said it would relase radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay; strong negative response put a temporary hold on that plan. Earlier this year, Holtec said it was heating radioactive water to evaporate it ... triggering another round of concern about the company's plans and the health of Cape Cod Bay and people living within range of the former power plant.

What happens when the water evaporates?

The radioactive water at Pilgrim doesn't actually contain heavy metals. Instead, the hydrogen in the water has absorbed the radioactivity and become and isotope called tritium.  When water is released or evaporated, tritium escapes to Cape Cod.

Is tritium dangerous?

In response to Lower Cape TV's inquiries, Holtec wrote that the tritium it would be releasing is not harmful and, indeed, releasing or evaporating radioactive water forms industry standard practice.  It adds that there is no scientific proof that Cape Cod or Cape Cod Bay would be harmed by these activities. Scientific groups say there could be some truth to that - and that tritium is one of the least harmful radioactive isotopes.

What has been the region's response?

Not surprisingly, others disagree.  In April, the region's Congressional Delegation wrote to Holtec to express their concerns. Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod likens the evaporation and potential release to running an experiment on live humans. Regional advocates, in general, suggest erring on the side of caution.

What are the options?

However, options are limited. The water could be shipped ... somewhere else. Or, it could be stored for decades while the radioactivity decreases. No one on any side of the conversation likes either of these options. The debate has slowed the decommission process, which has now slipped to 2035 ... and the debate continues.