Below is a message from Xcel Energy in coordination with state offices:

"We have made significant progress in recovering tritium from the groundwater at our Monticello nuclear plant since the initial release in 2022. Concentrations in the groundwater are more than 90% lower than initial recordings, and we have pumped over 8 million gallons of water into on-site storage ponds.

On Jan. 16, around 450 gallons of the recovered groundwater (less than 0.01% of the total groundwater recovered to-date) was released from a hose and onto the ground in a fenced-in area on the plant property. This was not a new leak from the plant, and there was no danger to anyone. The released water quickly froze in the cold outdoor temperatures. Our team immediately began remediation, which we completed within 24 hours.

We reported the incident to our state and federal regulators and continue to communicate with our local government stakeholders. The concentration of tritium in the released water was nearly 100 times lower than initial readings in late 2022, showing the progress we have made in our recovery efforts.

We remain committed to reducing tritium levels in the groundwater across the plant property to below the EPA’s safe drinking water standard. At no point has tritium been detected in the Mississippi River or in drinking water above naturally occurring background levels.

Our remediation efforts are ongoing while the plant continues to power 500,000 homes across the Upper Midwest with carbon-free, 24/7 electricity. For more background on our cleanup efforts to date, visit Monticello Groundwater | Public Safety | Xcel Energy."