Shutdown of nuclear Power Plant in Monticello kills fish in Mississippi River
March 28, 2023 12:03PM CDT
Tyler Abayare catches a red horse carp on the Mississippi River at the Montissippi County Park downriver from the Xcel Energy nuclear power plant in Monticello, Minn., on Friday, March 24, 2023. Abayare fishes at this spot everyday and noticed increased activity including people taking water samples around three times a week in the last 60 days. (Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune via AP)
MONTICELLO, Minn. (AP) — State officials in Minnesota say the shutdown of a nuclear power plant caused a water temperature change that killed at least 230 fish in the Mississippi River. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Monday that the fish didn’t die because of any tritium leaking into the river and that there is no danger to the public. The kill occurred days after a leak of what was believed to be hundreds of gallons of water containing tritium was discovered from a temporary fix at Xcel Energy’s Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, near Minneapolis. The facility powered down Friday so permanent repairs could begin.
