"...Notwithstanding its impressive operational record, Vermont Yankee has been the focus of considerable media attention due to a leak of tritium identified in early 2010. Vermont Yankee worked
diligently to identify its source, to stop the leak, and to remediate the effects of the leak on the environment. To date, Vermont Yankee has removed approximately 180 cubic feet of soil from the area near the leak and transported the removed soil to a licensed facility outside of Vermont for proper disposal. In addition, Vermont Yankee has pumped more than 300,000 gallons of tritiated water from the ground on the plant site and shipped the tritiated water to a licensed facility outside of Vermont for proper disposal. Vermont Yankee takes the leak and its remediation very seriously and has committed significant resources to addressing the issue. While acknowledging that this event did not meet Vermont Yankee’s high standards for operational excellence, it is important to keep the event in perspective. To that end, it is worth noting that:
• Neither the Vermont Department of Health nor the NRC has concluded that the leak presented a danger to the health and safety of the public;
• Despite hundreds of tests over the past year, detectable levels of tritium have never been found in any drinking water;
• Detectable levels of tritium have never been found in the Connecticut River, nor in any vegetation, beef, or milk from sources near the plant or down-river; and
• In accordance with NRC protocols, Vermont Yankee analyzed a “worst case scenario” related to the tritium leak and concluded that the highest exposure to radiation to any individual that could result from the leak, using the most conservative (i.e., the worst case) assumptions, would be less than one one-hundredth (0.01) mRem per year. To put that number in context, the average person is exposed to three (3.0) mRem of radiation on a typical cross country airline flight and to thirty (30.0) mRem from a typical dental x-ray examination.
In summary, measured against any credible standard, Vermont Yankee is in excellent condition, has been maintained and improved appropriately by its owner, and provides safe, clean, and reliable energy to Vermont."
http://www.atomicinsights.com/pdf_files/To_J_Leas_From_Entergy_Re_Vermont_Yankee.pdf