![UPDATE: Chlorine Bleach Leak at Nuclear Plant](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2012/01/Pairie-Island.jpg?w=980&q=75)
UPDATE: Chlorine Bleach Leak at Nuclear Plant
RED WING (AP) - Officials say a 2-inch break in a pipe leading to a chlorine bleach tank is to blame for a chemical spill at the Prairie Island nuclear plant near Red Wing.
They say a plant worker discovered the break, leading to an alert being declared shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday. They say public safety was never at risk and no radiological material was released.
About 500 gallons of the chemical, which is used to clean river water needed to cool the plant, spilled. The chemical can cause respiratory problems, but plant officials say no workers were hurt.
An alert is step two in a four-tier system of classifying plant incidents. Xcel Energy's chief nuclear officer, Dennis Koehl, says it's the first time an alert has been issued for Prairie Island.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
More From AM 1240 WJON
![Xcel Energy Encourages People To Save Energy During Heat Wave](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2016/07/Thermometer.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Xcel Energy Names Berntsen As New Executive VP](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2024/05/attachment-Rob-Berntsen1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Power Outage Impacts 3K Customers in St. Cloud Area](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2011/09/power_lines_getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Xcel Energy Provides Update On Groundwater Recovery Efforts](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/03/attachment-dan-meyers-xXbQIrWH2_A-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Xcel Gets Grant for Next-Generation Battery System](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2019/05/Solar-Farm.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesotans Encouraged to Apply for Energy Assistance Program](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/04/attachment-snow.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Xcel Hosts Becker Open House](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/04/attachment-c4113.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![PUC Approves Xcel Energy Rate Increase](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/03/attachment-c2411.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Xcel Offers Tips to Prepare for Winter Storm](http://townsquare.media/site/67/files/2023/02/attachment-Cover-141.jpg?w=980&q=75)