Levels of contamination in groundwater near the Indian Point nuclear power plant are lower than initially feared, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Entergy officials are working to stop leaks from a spent-fuel pool that have sent water containing strontium 90 into the Hudson.The Journal News reports that groundwater samples taken from monitoring wells detected strontium-90 at amounts that were below the minimum detectable level. In other words, strontium-90 in the wells cannot be distinguished from background levels in the area.

Phillip Musegaas, a staff attorney for Riverkeeper, said the news was a welcome development that should help assuage fears about drinking-water supplies. But he added that Entergy Nuclear, which owns Indian Point, may not be doing enough to keep radioactive material from entering the Hudson River.