All Clear Given At Prairie Island Nuke Plant
Red Wing,MN ( KROC AM News) - Xcel Energy reported early Friday morning that the Notification of Unusual Event at its Prairie Island nuclear power plant near Red Wing had been terminated.
The notification was issued around 4 a.m. Thursday after a fire alarm was activated inside the Unit 2 containment building.The unit was shut down and employees later entered the building and confirmed there was no fire. Xcel says there was no release of radioactive materials during the event, which posed no danger to employees or the public.
Xcel says a Notification of Unusual Event declaration is the lowest of four emergency classifications established by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.The declaration indicates a potential reduction in the level of safety at the plant but no threat to public safety.
An Xcel spokesman says officials are now assessing the conditions and will make any needed repairs before the unit is brought back online.
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