A faulty pipe that allowed water containing a radioactive isotope of hydrogen to leak at the Xcel Energy’s single-unit Monticello nuclear power station in Minnesota has been repaired and the plant will return to service in the next week, a spokesman for the energy company said on Tuesday (28 March).
The nuclear station, about 60 km northwest of Minneapolis, was fully powered down at around 07:00 on Saturday to fix the leaky pipe discovered last week, Xcel Energy spokesman Theo Keith said.
“Crews have already repaired the leak, which did not pose any risks to public health, safety, or the environment,” Keith said. “The pipe was confirmed as the only source of the leak.”
The station will return to service in the next week, but will temporarily close in mid-April for an annual maintenance project.
…