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Xcel Energy leak: City of Monticello learned of tritium in days, not weeks

The City of Monticello learned about elevated levels of tritium near the Xcel nuclear plant three months earlier than city officials have acknowledged publicly, according to emails obtained from a public records request.

On Nov. 28, six days after radiated water was detected, Scott Johnson, Community Relations manager for Xcel Energy, sent a three-sentence email to Monticello City Administrator Rachel Leonard, informing the city that a monitoring well at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant “indicated Tritium levels above a reportable threshold.” 

Asked about the discrepancy between the email and statements, city spokesperson Haley Foster said the earlier November 28 email did not contain sufficient details and drew a distinction between elevated levels of tritium in groundwater and confirmation of a leak at the nuclear plant.

The Nov. 28 email from Xcel was also apparently intended for Wright County Commission Darek Vetsch, whose district includes the City of Monticello.

But the email from Xcel misspelled his first name and had the wrong email address. It appears to have been inadvertently sent to a financial advisor with a similar name, according to records.

Foster maintains that the City’s press release was still accurate.

“As detailed in the emails provided to FOX 9, the City was not aware of the larger issue, including the tritiated groundwater until late February. This is reflected in our release, ‘The City of Monticello learned about the extent of the water leak at the Monticello Plant at the end of February 2023.’”

The key phrase appears to be, ‘the extent of the water leak….”

Earlier drafts of the statement did not use the word “extent” and said unequivocally the City of Monticello learned about the leak at the end of February 2023. 

Catch Up Quick 

🚗 The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul announced Tuesday they will lift their one-sided winter parking restrictions. Both cities announced the parking ban will now be over beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29. 

👮 After nearly a year of searching, investigators used DNA pulled from a half-eaten burrito to capture the man they believe firebombed a prominent Wisconsin anti-abortion lobbying group’s office. The U.S. attorney’s office in Madison announced that police arrested 29-year-old Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury at Boston’s Logan International Airport on Tuesday. He was charged via the complaint with one count of attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive.

🏈 The Gophers had their fourth spring practice, and second in pads. 

Minnesota Aurora home games on TV on FOX 9+ in 2023

Minnesota Aurora home games will be on TV this season! Minnesota Aurora FC and FOX 9+ have announced a partnership for the 2023 season that will make games available over the air and streaming online for all home broadcasts starting with the home opener May 24. 

FOX 9+ is committed to local sports coverage and can be found on Comcast channel 10/807, DirecTV channel 29, DISH channel 29, Spectrum channel 10, Mediacom channel 10/803, and Over-The-Air channel 9.2. In addition, these games will be streamed on FOX9.com, the FOX 9 YouTube page, and through FOX 9+ on Hulu with Live TV, Sling TV, Tubi, fuboTV, and YouTube TV.  

FOX 9
11358 Viking Dr. Eden Prairie, MN 55344