Xcel Energy, the operator of the Monticello nuclear power plant in Minnesota, has begun shutting down operations at the plant due to new evidence of radioactive water leaks, the Associated Press reported.
In November, Xcel Energy discovered about 1.5 million liters of tritium-laden water leaking, after which remedial action was taken. A new leak occurred this week, causing the plant’s operation to be suspended, the report said.
“We could continue to operate the plant safely and just repair the catch basin, but of course there is always the risk that a new leak will occur and more tritium will get into the groundwater,” company president Chris Clark told reporters.
The nuclear power plant is located just 55 kilometers northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota’s largest city.
Edwin Lyman, a senior global safety scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), said the second act of the tritium leak “sheds light on the problem of maintaining obsolete underground piping” at older nuclear plants. The temporary closure of the Minnesota nuclear power plant may have been caused by overcautiousness. But at the same time, “it may be a sign that they don’t know how serious the problem is, and they need to dig deep to find out what’s really going on.”
That said, the agency notes, Xcel Energy informed state and federal authorities of the November leak, but “did not publicize the fact until last week, raising questions about transparency and public health issues.”
According to Tim Judson, executive director of the U.S. Nuclear Information and Resource Service, the second leak “is clearly of concern.” He added that public concerns about possible health risks are exacerbated by the recent derailment of a toxic train in Ohio. Local residents remain concerned about possible health effects, despite government assurances that the air and water are safe.
“People see what happened in Ohio, and they are incredulous about the government’s response,” Judson explained.