Effects of the shutdown of a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant on nearby streams

In a study conducted in 1971, levels of tritium were found in Cattaraugus-Creek, a stream in Western New York State. This material was attributed to the operation in West Valley, New York of the world's first commercial nuclear fuels reprocessing plant. Several fission fragment isotopes in addition to tritium were also observed in Buttermilk Creek, one of the tributaries of Cattaraugus Creek that runs through the reprocessing plant grounds. The plant ceased processing nuclear fuel in December 1971, and a new set of measurements in these streams were made to assess the effect of the ending of the plant's operation. Substantially lower concentrations of tritium and no fission produced isotopes have been observed.