def #100 05/18/10

FREEHOLDER KELLY SUPPORTS 9TH DISTRICT LEGISLATORS; PRAISES DEP FOR QUICK ACTION

TOMS RIVER – Ocean County Freeholder Deputy Director John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety supports the actions of the 9th District Legislative Offices commending the State Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in issuing a Spill Act Directive requiring Exelon, the operator of the Nuclear Generating Station to take all necessary measures to prevent Tritium from reaching drinking water supplies.

Deputy Director Kelly said the NJDEP has moved quickly to meet its obligation to County residents to insure that there is no threat to the public health from the accidental release and to insure that Exelon takes the necessary steps to cleanup the contamination. By taking these actions now and issuing a Spill Act Directive, NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin is insuring that the problem will adequately be addressed.

Tritium, a naturally occurring radioactive material, was released in April of 2009 when approximately 180,000 gallons of contaminated water leaked from pipes at Oyster Creek. Current estimates are that it would take approximately fifteen years to migrate off plant property and reach drinking water wells.

Deputy Director Kelly joins with the 9th District Legislative Offices in praising Commissioner Martin in reacting forcefully to news that the Tritium contaminated water had found its way into the Cohancey Aquifer which is a major source of drinking water for the residents of Ocean County.

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