

Minnesota regulators are closely monitoring the cleanup of a leak of 400,000 gallons of radioactive water from Xcel Energy's Monticello nuclear power plant. Xcel Energy reported the leak of water containing tritium to state and federal authorities in late November, but the spill had not been made public before Thursday. The company said it notified the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the state on Nov. 22, the day after it confirmed the leak, which came from a pipe between two buildings.
Xcel Energy claims that the leak has been fully contained on-site, and there is no danger to the public. The contaminated water contains tritium levels below federal thresholds. The company has been pumping groundwater and processing the contaminated water since the leak was confirmed.
State officials say that they waited to go public until more information was available. Now that the full extent of the leak has been identified, the information is being shared. The water remains contained on Xcel's property and poses no immediate public health risk.
This incident raises concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants and the importance of strict safety protocols and regular maintenance. While Xcel Energy assures that there is no danger to the public, we must all remain vigilant and work together to ensure that our energy production methods are safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable.