Update 3/12 at 6:30 p.m.: Xcel Energy confirmed that the “first indication” of abnormal oil levels at the plant occurred on Monday afternoon.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources released a joint statement on Thursday afternoon:
“The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are committed to protecting our state’s environment, wildlife, and the health of all Minnesotans.
“MPCA became aware of a lube oil leak at the Xcel Energy nuclear facility near Monticello Tuesday when Xcel Energy contacted the state duty officer. Since then, Xcel Energy workers and private citizens have reported a visible sheen on the Mississippi River downstream from the facility. MPCA is leading the investigation and response, continues to monitor the work onsite, and will ensure pollution is cleaned up by responsible parties. MPCA’s emergency response team confirmed that the leak has been identified, isolated, and sealed.
“MDH is monitoring the situation to ensure public health is prioritized and protected throughout the investigation, response, and clean-up. MDH is also working directly with downstream communities that utilize the Mississippi River for municipal water supplies. There is currently no known risk to public health.”
Mineral oil has been detected in the Mississippi River after around 200 gallons of oil leaked at the nearby Monticello nuclear plant.
Xcel Energy officials confirmed Wednesday that a “small amount” of mineral oil had appeared in a sheen on the shoreline of the river.
The confirmation from Xcel comes a day after plant personnel said no oil had reached the river.
The first signs of an issue with the oil levels at the plant were detected on Monday afternoon, according to Xcel officials, who said that its team had “identified and isolated the leak” within a few hours.
Xcel said it notified the proper state agencies on Monday.
However, in Tuesday’s statement, Xcel Energy said the leak was first discovered on Tuesday morning. 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to Xcel Energy to clarify which day the leak was found.
The company said on Tuesday that the plant has been shut down for maintenance since Feb. 20.
The full statement from Xcel Energy is below.
“It is our priority to be good stewards of the environment and our communities. We set up containment and absorbent booms Tuesday morning in our discharge canal and on the river near the Monticello nuclear plant to capture any mineral oil in the water. Based on our current understanding, we have contained nearly all of the mineral oil within the discharge canal on our property.
“There’s always a possibility that a small amount of mineral oil seeped past the containment system. Our teams are regularly inspecting the Mississippi River and did not observe any mineral oil on the river until today, when we observed a small amount of mineral oil appearing as a sheen near the shoreline. We are implementing the appropriate cleanup actions where the sheen is present to clean up the small amounts of mineral oil. We are continuing to monitor and are working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
“Based on current information, our first indication of an abnormal oil level in plant equipment came on Monday afternoon. Within a few hours, our teams had identified and isolated the leak, investigated the source, and promptly reported it to the state that same day.”
For Related Stories: Mississippi River Monticello Oil Xcel Energy