FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2008
Daybook Advisory/Note to Editors for July 24, 2008
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control staff will be in York, Oconee and Fairfield counties Thursday, July 24, visiting with residents and taking more well water samples near the Catawba, Oconee and V.C. Summer nuclear power plants.
This work is being done to determine groundwater quality in the area and as part of DHEC’s work to monitor and protect groundwater surrounding South Carolina’s nuclear power plants. The tests will help determine whether certain types of radioactive materials might be present in the groundwater.
DHEC is re-sampling residents’ wells that were previously sampled in earlier this year. This testing will determine if gross Alpha or gross Beta radioactive contaminants are present in the environment and whether they are naturally-occurring.
This sampling is strictly voluntary and residents will be informed of their well’s test results.
Media wishing to observe the sampling and conduct interviews should contact Mary Nguyen Bright in DHEC’s Nuclear Response and Emergency Environmental Surveillance Section at (803) 896-4099 for location and times before Wednesday, July 23 to make arrangements for interviews and/or to shadow sample team efforts.
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For more information:
Mary Nguyen Bright (803)-896-4009 or (803) 698-2967
E-mail – brightmn@dhec.sc.gov
BNR1864