Radioactive material found under Indian Point

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - New questions are being raised about water quality near the Indian Point nuclear plant in Westchester County. Contamination has leaked into the groundwater under the facility. The radioactive material tritium, a cancer-causing agent, that leaked into groundwater beneath the Indian Point Nuclear power plant in Buchanan, 40 miles north of New York City. The cause of the leak: a pump failure.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York is calling for an independent authority to do an investigation.

Entergy, which operates the nuclear power plant, said that the elevated levels of tritium are more than 1,000 times below federal limits and do not pose a public health risk.

While Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said the contamination was contained at the site, he has now ordered the state's Environmental Conservation and Health Departments to investigate.

Paul Gallay is with Riverkeeper, an environmental group. He says this latest leak produced radioactive levels the highest they've ever been at Indian point. Riverkeeper believes Indian point, which has been operating for 40 years now, is simply too outdated and should be shut down until an investigation into its safety is complete.