WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Radioactive Contamination Found in Cove Near Nuclear Plant (Waterford-WTNH) _ Millstone power station is making waves again, after radioactive material is found in a cove near the plant. That material has been identified by a Yale University scientist who's been digging into the sediment in Jordan Cove as 'cobalt-60', a radioactive by-product of generating nuclear energy. Is it a health threat? News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports. For the people of Waterford Jordan Cove has been a wonderful natural resource. Al McNealy has lived here all his life, swimming and fishing here. Now that's got him a little worried. Al McNealy, Waterford: "20 years ago, if this stuff was contaminated by any type of radiation, we're wondering if we're gonna glow in the dark?!" The concerns are being sparked by a Yale researcher who has detected small amounts of contaminated material here - a metal known as 'cobalt-60'. Cobalt 60 is a radioactive by-product of generating nuclear power. The scientist says he found it in several spots in the Cove from the Sound all the way inland. He concluded it came from the nearby Millstone nuclear power plant. Officials don't dispute that, however they do say it is in such small amounts that it poses no risk whatsoever. Terrence McIntosh, Northeast Utilities: "There've been a number of studies done over an extensive period of time... At no time do any of the reports show any harmful effect to the environment, shellfish or to human beings." Just the same, some are concerned the cobalt-60 could've gotten into flounder or shellfish and that eating them may cause long-term health problems. It's something Kelly McNealy doesn't like to think about. Kelly McNealy, Waterford: "People go clamming and shellfishing on the other side of the island. I think they better do something about it, they better clean it up because we need this in the summer." Maybe so, but NU officials say no cleanup is needed and federal regulators agree. The NRC says radiation levels in the cove are 'normal' and they've found no significant amounts of cobalt-60. Because the cobalt-60 was found four inches under the bottom scientists estimate it was discharged about 30-years ago. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Radioactive Contamination Found in Cove Near Nuclear Plant
(Waterford-WTNH) _ Millstone power station is making waves again, after radioactive material is found in a cove near the plant. That material has been identified by a Yale University scientist who's been digging into the sediment in Jordan Cove as 'cobalt-60', a radioactive by-product of generating nuclear energy. Is it a health threat?
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports.

For the people of Waterford Jordan Cove has been a wonderful natural resource. Al McNealy has lived here all his life, swimming and fishing here. Now that's got him a little worried.

Al McNealy, Waterford: "20 years ago, if this stuff was contaminated by any type of radiation, we're wondering if we're gonna glow in the dark?!"

The concerns are being sparked by a Yale researcher who has detected small amounts of contaminated material here - a metal known as 'cobalt-60'. Cobalt 60 is a radioactive by-product of generating nuclear power. The scientist says he found it in several spots in the Cove from the Sound all the way inland. He concluded it came from the nearby Millstone nuclear power plant.

Officials don't dispute that, however they do say it is in such small amounts that it poses no risk whatsoever.

Terrence McIntosh, Northeast Utilities: "There've been a number of studies done over an extensive period of time... At no time do any of the reports show any harmful effect to the environment, shellfish or to human beings."

Just the same, some are concerned the cobalt-60 could've gotten into flounder or shellfish and that eating them may cause long-term health problems. It's something Kelly McNealy doesn't like to think about.

Kelly McNealy, Waterford: "People go clamming and shellfishing on the other side of the island. I think they better do something about it, they better clean it up because we need this in the summer."

Maybe so, but NU officials say no cleanup is needed and federal regulators agree. The NRC says radiation levels in the cove are 'normal' and they've found no significant amounts of cobalt-60.

Because the cobalt-60 was found four inches under the bottom scientists estimate it was discharged about 30-years ago.

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