BUCHANAN, N.Y., March 2 (UPI) -- Two New York state agencies knew about radioactive material leaked from the Indian Point nuclear plant long before releasing information on it, says a report.
Citing e-mail, the White Plains (N.Y.) Journal says the departments of Health and Environmental Conservation had information in December that strontium 90 was showing up in a monitoring well at the nuclear plant, but news of the isotope's presence was released only three months later.
The report said the Dec. 5 e-mail between officials at the two departments had reported test results showing radioactive material about 100 yards from the Hudson River.
Officials of the environmental group Riverkeeper, which obtained the information through the Freedom of Information Act, told the newspaper said the low levels of nuclear pollution were less of a concern than the lack of public disclosure by the agencies responsible for protecting the health and safety of local residents.
Officials from the agencies say the results were not made public until now because they were too preliminary and needed further study.
