“Will County residents gathered last night for a town meeting to discuss a radioactive contaminant found in their groundwater. For weeks now, residents near the Exelon Company Braidwood nuclear power plant have been reeling from disturbing news: several years ago, the plant leaked radioactive tritium, a low-level carcinogen, into local rivers and water wells.

Residents gathered at a gymnasium in the town of Godley, to confront state officials about whether their community is protected.

Bill Busher with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency told the audience of about 200 that the local water is safe. But Busher failed to reassure everyone.

Organizers did not invite Exelon, but a spokesman said the company would not have attended anyway. Organizers have vowed to pursue criminal charges over the spills in an effort to force the courts to find answers they say Exelon has not provided.“