Contaminated water that leaked from a radioactive waste container halted work in a packing and shipping area at Savannah River Site’s E-Area this week.

Workers noticed the leak Tuesday while processing drums of 1970s-era waste for shipment to a disposal site in New Mexico, said Clif Web, vice president of public affairs for the site’s contractor, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.

An analysis of the leakage found plutonium contamination, which was confined to the enclosed packing area, he said. There was no worker exposure.

Technicians are completing an assessment and cleanup plan and will re-enter the area in a few days to remove the material.

The damaged container holds about 85 gallons of material, of which about 10 gallons leaked out.