No. III-08-036 

Contacts: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662 

 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663 

 September 19, 2008 

 E-Mail: opa3@nrc.gov 

Web site: www.nrc.gov

NRC BEGINS SPECIAL INSPECTION AT 

MONTICELLO NUCLEAR PLANT DUE TO EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a special inspection at the Monticello 

Nuclear Power Station to review equipment problems associated with an unplanned reactor 

shutdown. The plant is operated by Xcel Energy and is located in Monticello, Minn. 

On Sept. 11, 2008, the Monticello Plant tripped (shut down automatically) as a result of a 

transformer failure that led to loss of off-site power to some plant equipment. After the trip, the 

plant experienced other equipment problems involving safety-related systems. 

“The plant shut down safely and these equipment problems did not make the plant 

unstable,” said Regional Administrator James Caldwell. “However, we need to have a more 

thorough understanding of the scope of equipment issues that occurred. Our special inspection 

team is tasked with review and analysis of these issues and of the plant’s actions to fix these 

problems.” 

In addition to reviewing the circumstances around the Sept. 11 trip, the special inspection 

will also evaluate equipment problems that occurred on Sept. 17, when the Monticello Plant 

declared an Unusual Event, the lowest level of emergency in the NRC’s emergency classification 

system. The plant was still shut down as a result of the earlier trip. 

The NRC’s special inspection team was at the plant when the declaration occurred. The team 

members assisted the resident inspectors at the plant to respond to the event. 

Operators of the Monticello Nuclear Power Station declared an Unusual Event after a 

contract employee was fatally injured when he came into contact with a high-voltage power line 

outside of the plant gates. This led to an interruption of power to some plant equipment. The 

power interruption caused a system designed to cool the reactor while it is shut down to become 

unavailable. Power to the cooling system was subsequently restored, and there was no hazard to 

plant workers or the public. The NRC’s special inspection team will review the circumstances 

around these equipment issues. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III 

2443 Warrenville Road 

Lisle IL 60532 
The three person special inspection team will establish the sequence of events during the 

Sept. 11 trip and the Sept. 17 Unusual Event; review the equipment problems associated with 

both incidents; conduct an independent review of actions and responses of plant operators; and 

review the utility’s response to the situation and the company’s corrective actions. 

The duration of a special inspection cannot be determined in advance. The average 

duration of a special inspection is seven days. The inspection report will be issued about 45 days 

after the inspection is complete. It will be available through the NRC RIII Office of Public 

Affairs and at the NRC web site: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html. 

 

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