Xcel Addresses Flood Concerns At Monticello Plant

MONTICELLO (AP) — Xcel Energy says it has addressed federal regulators' concerns about flood protection at its Monticello nuclear power plant.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Xcel began re-evaluating flooding hazards following the 2011 tsunami that crippled reactors at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan.

The Monticello plant is along the Mississippi River. The commission made a preliminary determination that if there were a historic flood, the plant's flood plan could not be implemented in a 12-day timeframe.

But the NRC says the finding is "not a current safety concern," and that Xcel fixed the problem in February.

Xcel says the plant had contracts with local suppliers for flood protection materials if needed, but those flood berm materials are now on site.

Xcel has 10 days to respond to the NRC.