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Low levels of tritium at Fermilab - Overview In November 2005, for the first time in the 30-year history of our environmental monitoring program at Fermilab, we detected very small amounts of tritium in a stream leaving the Fermilab site. The levels found in Indian Creek and in ponds on the Fermilab site were far lower than the federal water standards that Fermilab is required to meet and posed no threat to human health or to the environment. Fermilab is committed to go beyond merely satisfying the regulatory limits; to reduce tritium discharges to the maximum extent achievable; to keep the public fully informed; and to engage the public in the establishment of goals and formulation of plans. As soon as we confirmed the presence of tritium, we immediately took steps to minimize the possibility of water containing tritium to enter Indian Creek. However, water with low levels of tritium may occasionally leave the Fermilab site, for example after heavy rain storms. We have taken additional steps to keep the levels of tritium in site discharges as low as reasonably achievable. Since April 2006, we have not dedected any tritium in Indian Creek. We have never found any signs of tritium in Kress Creek and Ferry Creek. We believe that our neighbors have a right to know what is happening on the laboratory site and how we are keeping our commitment to protect the environment. This Web site provides our neighbors with information and updates on tritium at Fermilab. It also provides the latest results for monitoring tritium discharges at the site boundary.
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| last modified 05/22/2009 email Fermilab |