NRC has a performance indicator and inspection finding matrix webpage for each plant. There are separate pages for Unit 1 and Unit 2

June 30, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* see items listed under Monticello

* [2007-06-28] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 And 2 - NRC Generic letter 2006-01: Steam Generator Tube Integrity And Associated Technical Specifications ML071640150 2007-06-19 4 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 GL-06-001 TAC MD0101 TAC MD0102 2007-06-19 2007-06-27 June 19, 2007 Mr. Michael D. Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089

June 23, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-19] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit 1 and 2 - Acting Branch Chief ML071440092 2007-06-08 3 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 2007-06-08 2007-06-18 June 8, 2007 Mr. Michael D. Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 SUBJECT: PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR

June 16, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-15] 06/28/2007, Notice of Meeting with Nuclear Management Company, LLC, to Discuss NMC's Plans for the Submittal of a License Amendment Request for the Prairie Island Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation ML071640492 2007-06-13 3 07200010 TAC L24100 2007-06-13 2007-06-14 June 13, 2007 MEETING NOTICE Organization: Nuclear Management Company, LLC (NMC) Date and Time: Thursday, June 28, 2007 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Location: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Executive Boulevard Buildi

* [2007-06-13] LER 07-001-00 for Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Unit 1 re Unit 1 Train B ECCS Inoperable Longer Than Allowed by Technical Specifications Due to Inoperable Breaker ML071550269 2007-06-04 5 05000282 DPR-042 L-PI-07-043 LER 07-001-00 2007-06-04 2007-06-12 N Commirted to NUC~ Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC June 4,2007 L-PI-07-043 10 CFR 50.73 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document C

* [2007-06-13] LER 07-001-00 for Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Unit 2 re Unit 2 Reactor Trip ML071550268 2007-06-04 5 05000306 DPR-060 L-PI-07-038 LER 07-001-00 2007-06-04 2007-06-12 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC June 4,2007 L-PI-07-038 10 CFR 50.73 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washingt

June 9, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-06-08] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Amendments RE: Extension of Technical Specifications 3.8.1 "AC Source-Operating, Emergency Diesel Generators DG completion Time Tac Nos. MC9001 and MC9002 ML071310023 2007-05-30 31 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 TAC MC9001 TAC MC9002 2007-05-30 2007-06-07 ML071490003+ May 30, 2007 Mr. Michael D. Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 550

* [2007-06-08] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2, Extension of Technical Specifications 3.8.1 "AC Source-Operating," Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) Completion Time (Tac Nos. MC9001 and MC9002) ML071490004 2007-05-30 2 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 TAC MC9001 TAC MC9002 2007-05-30 2007-06-07 ML071490003+ AC Sources-Operating 3.8.1 ACTIONS CONDITION REQUIRED ACTION COMPLETION TIME A. (continued) A.2 Restore path to 7 days OPERABLE status. AND 21 days from discovery of

* [2007-06-08] Task Order No. 005 Under Delivery Order No. DR-03-06-046 ML071510037 2007-05-30 6 05000282 05000306 DR-03-06-046 GL-04-002 GSI-191 Job Code J-3304 NRC-03-06-046-T3 TAC MC4707 2007-05-30 2007-06-07 f ORDER FOR SUPPLIES OR SERVICES PAGE OF PAGES IMPORTANT: Mark all packages and papers with contract and/or order numbers. BPA NO. DR-03-06-0

* [2007-06-05] Prairie Island Request for Information Ltr. 05/24/07 ML071450133 2007-05-24 8 05000282 05000306 07200010 DPR-042 DPR-060 SNM-2506 IR-07-004 2007-05-24 2007-06-04 May 24, 2007 Mr. Michael D. Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 SUBJ

June 2, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-31] 06/29/2007-Notice of Meeting Between NRC and Nuclear Management Co., to Discuss Radiation Protection Improvements at Prairie Island Station ML071420439 2007-05-22 3 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 2007-05-22 2007-05-30 May 22, 2007 Mr. Michael Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING D

* [2007-05-31] E-Mail, Request for Additional Information on PI LAR - MC9001/MC9002 ML060950613 2006-04-04 4 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 TAC MC9001 TAC MC9002 2006-04-04 2007-05-30 From: Mahesh Chawla To: gabor.salamon@nmcco.com Date: 4/4/06 11:35AM Subject: Request for additional information on PI LAR - MC9001/MC9002 By letter dated November 21, 2005, the

* [2007-05-31] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Unit - Pressurizer Surge, Spray, Safety, And Relief Nozzle Weld Susceptibility To Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking ( TAC NO. MD4174) ML071300649 2007-05-16 4 05000282 DPR-042 TAC MD4174 2007-05-16 2007-05-30 May 16, 2007 Mr. Michael D. Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 SUBJECT: PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERA

* [2007-05-31] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Amendment Re: Extension of Technical Specifications 3.8.1 "AC Source-Operating," Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) Completion Time (Tac Nos. MC9001 and MC9002) ML071490003 2007-05-30 ML071310023+ ML071490004+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071490003 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME= ML_adams^hqntad01

* [2007-05-30] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Report on Results of Staff Audit of Corrective Actions to Address Generic Letter 2004-02 Re: (TAC NOS. MC4707 and MC4708) ML071370591 2007-05-18 3 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 GL-04-002 TAC MC4707 TAC MC4708 2007-05-18 2007-05-29 ML071370498+ May 18, 2007 Mr. Michael D. Wadley Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Wel

* [2007-05-30] Prairie, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Report on Results of Staff Audit of Corrective Actions to Address Generic Letter 2004-02 Re: (TAC NOS. MC4707 and MC4708) ML071370498 2007-05-29 ML070750065+ ML071370591+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071370498 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME= ML_adams^hqntad01

May 26, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-26] 10 CFR 50.55a Request 1-RR-4-6 for the Prairie Island, Unit 1, Fourth Ten-year Interval Inservice Inspection Program ML071370392 2007-05-11 16 05000282 DPR-042 L-PI-07-037 TAC MC5644 TAC MC5645 2007-05-11 2007-05-25 Committed to Nuclear Excellence Prairie lsland Nuclear Generating Plant Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC May 1 1,2007 L-P 1-07-037 10 CFR 50.55a U S Nuclear Regulatory Comm

* [2007-05-23] 06/29/2007, Notice of Meeting with Nuclear Management Company to Brief the Region III Staff on Radiation Protection Improvements at the Prairie Island Station ML071410473 2007-05-21 3 05000282 05000306 2007-05-21 2007-05-22 NOTICE OF SIGNIFICANT LICENSEE MEETING THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE May 21, 2007 Names of Licensees: Nuclear Management Company Names of Facilities: Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Docket No: 50-

* [2007-05-23] IR 05000282-07-002, 05000306-07-002, on 01/01/07 - 03/31/07; Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, Units 1 and 2; Occupational Radiation Safety ML071340358 2007-05-14 39 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 IR-07-002 2007-05-14 2007-05-22 May 14, 2007 Mr. Thomas Palmisano Site Vice President Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC 1717 Wakonade Drive East Welch, MN 55089 SUBJECT: PRAIRIE ISLAND

* [2007-05-22] Prairie Island, Units 1 and 2, Revision to Correspondence Service Lists for Nuclear Management Company, LLC ML071310293 2007-05-11 1 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 L-HU-07-015 2007-05-11 2007-05-21 Committed to Nuclear Excellence I May 1 1,2007 L-H U-07-0 1 5 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 Prairie lsland Nuclear Generating Plant, Un

* [2007-05-22] Prairie Island, Units 1 and 2, Supplement to License Amendment Request (LAR) for Extension of Technical Specification (TS) 3.8.1, "AC Sources-Operating," Emergency Diesel Generator Completion Time ML071310108 2007-05-10 5 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 L-PI-07-039 TAC MC9001 TAC MC9002 2007-05-10 2007-05-21 Committed to Nuclear Excellence I-L- PI-07-039 10 CFR 50.90 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555-0001 Prairie Island Nuc

May 19, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-19] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Units 1 and 2, Application for Technical Specification Change TSTF-491, "Removal of the Main Steam and Main Feedwater Valve Isolation Time From Technical Specifications" Using Consolidated Line Item Improvement.... ML071300622 2007-05-10 10 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 L-PI-07-028 TSTF-491 2007-05-10 2007-05-18 Committed to Nuclear Excellence ,, b Prairie Island Nuclear Generatina Plant t " Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC L-PI-07-028 10 CFR 50.90 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commis

* [2007-05-18] Prairie Island, Units 1 and 2, Response to NRC Generic Letter 2007-01: Inaccessible or Underground Power Cable Failures that Disable Accident Mitigation Systems or Cause Plant Transients. ML071290142 2007-05-08 5 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 GL-07-001 L-PI-07-044 2007-05-08 2007-05-17 Committed to Nuclear Excellence / May 8,2007 Prairie lsland Nuclear Generating Plant Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC L-PI-07-044 10 CFR 50.54(f) GL 2007-01 U.S. Nucle

* [2007-05-15] IR 05000282-07-401 (DRS); 05000306-07-401 (DRS); 02/05/2007 - 02/07/2007 (NMC) and 02/08/2007 - 02/12/2007 (Site); Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant (PINGP); Routine Security Baseline Inspection. ML070800359 2007-03-19 5 2007-03-19 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island (EOC) Power Plant Assessment Letter (Report 05000282/2007001; 05000306/2007001). ML070610244 2007-03-02 7 2007-03-02 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] 04/03/2007 -Notice of Public Meeting with Prairie Island Units 1 & 2, to Discuss NRC End-of-Cycle Assessment Performance for the 2006 Calendar Year. ML070670275 2007-03-07 3 2007-03-07 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Ltr 03/20/07 Prairie Island Re 2007 Examination Arrangement. ML070800544 2007-03-20 5 2007-03-20 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] PNO-III-07-005 - Prairie Island Non-Credible Bomb Threat. ML070790538 2007-03-20 1 2007-03-20 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Unit 2, Inspection and Mitigation of Alloy 600/82/182 Pressurizer Butt Welds - Supplemental Response. ML070610286 2007-03-01 2 2007-03-01 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Units 1 and 2, License Amendment Request (LAR) to Revise Technical Specification (TS) 5.2.2 and TS 5.3 Qualification Requirements for Shift Technical Advisors. ML070600524 2007-02-28 19 2007-02-28 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island Unit 2 Withdrawal of License Amendment Request to Reduce Monthly Test Load for Emergency Diesel Generators D5 and D6. ML070670172 2007-03-07 2 2007-03-07 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island Units 1 & 2, Issuance of Amendments 177 & 167 re Steam Generator Tube Integrity. ML070330441 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island Units 1 & 2, Issuance of Amendments 177 & 167 re Steam Generator Tube Integrity. ML070330455 2007-03-20 20 2007-03-20 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island, SG Program, Comments on TSTF 449 Amendment. ML070790023 2006-09-19 2 2006-09-19 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island, Technical Specifications, Request for Miscellaneous Technical Specification Administrative Changes. ML070460318 2007-02-13 6 2007-02-13 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island, Unit 2 - 60-Day Report Pursuant to EA-03-009 Paragraph E for 2006 Prairie Island Unit 2 Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) Head Inspection. ML070520344 2007-02-13 3 2007-02-13 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island, Unit 2, Inservice Inspection Summary Report, Interval 4, Period 1, Outage 2, Refueling Outage Dates: 11-15-2006 to 12-15-2006, Fuel Cycle 23: 06-11-2005 to 12-15-2006. ML070780140 2007-03-14 104 2007-03-14 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island, Unit 2, Inspection and Mitigation of Alloy 600/82/182 Pressurizer Butt Welds - Supplemental Response, Revision 1. ML070740366 2007-03-14 2 2007-03-14 2007-05-14

* [2007-05-15] Prairie Island, Units 1 and 2, Supplement to License Amendment Request (LAR) for Extension of Technical Specification (TS) 3.8.1, "AC Sources-Operating," Emergency Diesel Generator Completion Time. ML070750177 2007-03-15 8 2007-03-15 2007-05-14

May 12, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-11] Memo Transmitting Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant: Report on Results of Staff Audit of Corrective Actions to Address Generic Letter 2004-02. ML071070182 2007-05-02 3 05000282 05000306 GL-04-002 2007-05-02 2007-05-10 ML071070057+ May 2, 2007 MEMORANDUM TO: L. Raghavan, Chief, Plant Licensing Branch III-1 Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: Michael L. Scott, Chief /RA/ Safet

* [2007-05-11] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Corrective Actions for Generic Letter 2004-02 Audit Report. ML070750065 2007-05-02 81 05000282 05000306 GL-04-002 2007-05-02 2007-05-10 ML071070057+ Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Corrective Actions for Generic Letter 2004-02 Table of Contents ii Acronym List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

* [2007-05-11] Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant: Report on Results of Staff Audit of Corrective Actions to Address Generic Letter 2004-02. ML071070057 2007-05-10 ML070750065+ML071070182+ FNWEBNAVIGATE=1.0 SYSTEMTYPE=MEZZANINE DOCUMENTID=071070057 STARTPAGE=1 LIBRARYNAME=ml_adams^hqntad01

May 5, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-05-02] Review Complete, Response to GL 2006-02, "Grid Reliability and the Impact on Plant Risk and the Operability of Offsite Power." ML071070027 2007-04-24 6 05000263 05000266 05000282 05000301 05000306 DPR-022 DPR-024 DPR-027 DPR-042 DPR-060 GL-06-002 TAC MD1001 TAC MD1018 TAC MD1019 TAC MD1020 TAC MD1021 2007-04-24 2007-05-01 April 24, 2007 Mr. Edward J. Weinkam, Director Nuclear Licensing and Regulatory Serv

April 28, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-04-26] Revision to Correspondence Service Lists for Nuclear Management Company, LLC. ML071070440 2007-04-16 2 05000263 05000266 05000282 05000301 05000306 L-HU-07-012 2007-04-16 2007-04-25 Committed to Nuclear Excellence 1 Nuclear Management Company, LLC L-HU-07-012 April 16, 2007 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: Document Control Desk Washington DC 20555 Re

* [2007-04-24] 04/03/2007 Summary of Meeting Between NRC Region III Management and Nuclear Management Company Management to Discuss the NRC's Assessment of Prairie Island Units 1 and 2's Safety Performance for the Period from January 1 Through December 31, 2006. ML071070195 2007-04-16 5 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 2007-04-16 2007-04-23 April 16, 2007 LICENSEE: Nuclear Management Company, LLC FACILITY: Prairie Island, Units 1 and 2 SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF THE APRIL 3, 2007, PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS THE PRAIRIE ISLAND UNITS 1 AND 2 END-O

April 21, 2007

New this week from NRC Public Document Room

* [2007-04-19] Prairie Island EOC Summary Meeting Slides. ML071010247 2007-04-03 20 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 2007-04-03 2007-04-18 Prairie Island Annual Assessment Prairie Island Annual Assessment Meeting Meeting Reactor Oversight Program Reactor Oversight Program - CY 2006 CY 2006 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Nuclear Regulatory

* [2007-04-19] Prairie Island, Units 1 and 2, Notification of Changes to the Emergency Response Data System (ERDS) Data Point Library (DPL). ML071000547 2007-03-21 7 05000282 05000306 DPR-042 DPR-060 L-PI-07-019 2007-03-21 2007-04-18 NMCer =i _ Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant CommittedtoNuerExcellence Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC MAR 2 1 200? L-PI-07-01 9 10 CFR 50, Appendix E U S Nuclear Regulat

* [2007-04-18] LER 06-001-00 for Prairie Island regarding Unit 2 Shutdown Required by Technical Specifications Due to Inoperable Emergency Diesel Generator. ML060970035 2006-04-06 6 05000306 DPR-060 L-PI-06-020 LER 06-001-00 2006-04-06 2006-04-17 N Commitfed to Nuclear Excellent Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Operated by Nuclear Management Company, LLC April 6, 2006 L-PI-06-020 10 CFR 50.73 U S Nuclear Regulatory Commission A

Recent NRC inspections

* (Released July 17) Prairie Island report 50-282-2003-4

* (Released May 30) Prairie Island report 50-282-2003-3

* Prairie Island report 50-282-2003-2

* Prairie Island report 50-282-2002-9

* Prairie Island report 50-282/2002-9

November 2, 2005

Costs reported for SGRP and new vessel heads

Xcel reported capital investments of $132 million to replace steam generators at Prairie Island Unit 1 and $40 million to replace reactor vessel heads at the plant. These were part of the nearly $5 billion the copany invested in generating plants, distribution and transmission systems since 1993.

1993 was important because it was the last time time the company requested a base rate increase, as they did today. The 8.05% proposed increase is separate from any fuel cost adjustments. If the filing is accepted by state regulators, a decision is expected in about ten months. In the meantime, the company requested a 6.9% interim increase. Xcel's base electric rates in Minnesota actually decreased by $23 million beginning in 2001 due to a reduction in the company's property taxes and the 2000 merger agreement that formed Xcel Energy. Overall electric bills for the company's customers have increased 17 percent during the past 13 years, due to increased fuel costs. This is less than the 35-percent average increase in cost for all consumer goods and services.

[Source: Xcel Energy press release, "Xcel Energy Seeks Electric Rate Increase in Minnesota", November 2, 2005 7:57 pm GMT]

June 6, 2003

* Prairie Island - a pilot plant for NRC's Standardized Plant Analysis Risk (SPAR) modeling

Prairie Island looks at more capital spending - SGRP and RPV head replacements

Charles Bomberger, Xcel's general manager of nuclear assets, was quoted by local paper on the investment effects of Minnesota's recent loosening of cask restrictions. The additional investments made more likely are steam generator replacement at Prairie Island U-2 and reactor head replacements at both Prairie Island units.

[Source: Susan E. Peterson (Star Tribune), "Xcel May Invest More In Prairie Island Plant", Minneapolis Star Tribune, June 6, 2003]

* Prairie Island - state cask law change prompts extra investment considerations

* Prairie Island - SGRP plans & costs

* Prairie Island - reactor vessel head replacement considered cost-effective for both units just to avoid inspection costs

May 25, 2003

Minnesota legislature passes dry cask storage bill to Governor

The Minnesota legislature sent a nuclear waste bill to the Governor today, after the House agreed to changes made by the Senate. The bill's sponsor in the House, who had complained that keeping many of the provisions in the bill was like keeping "frogs in a wheelbarrow" to appease various constituencies, was quoted as saying "This keeps all the frogs in the wheelbarrow," wearing a stuffed frog toy on his right shoulder. Amongst the bill's provisions is requirement for Xcel to generate at least 10% of its electricity using renewable energy by 2015, similar to the state's commitment to ensure the same. It also authorizes use and storage of enough spent fuel casks to get Prairie Island through its current license. If the plant's license gets renewed, the Public Utility Commission is responsible for determining whether to authorize additional spent fuel storage capacity. The Governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

[Source: Dane Smith, Mark Brunswick and David Phelps (Star Tribune), "Most legislators head home as negotiations continue", Star Tribune (Twin Cities), May 25, 2003]

* Minnesota Legislature Approves Enough Casks for Prairie Island license term

* Minnesota N-waste bill sponsor points to strong energy supply and asociated economic benefits

* Minn N-waste bill provisions - like "frogs in a wheelbarrow"

* Minnesota N-waste bill opponents' failed objections

* Minn N-waste bill endorses Prairie Island settlement with neighboring Tribe

May 19, 2003

State House oks more casks for Prairie Island

The state House today passed a bill authorizing more spent fuel storage casks at Prairie Island. The Star Tribune reporter was uncertain whether the Senate will agree to a House provision that transfers oversight on waste issues from legislature to Public Utilities Commission. The bill also requires Xcel to double spending on renewable energy to $16-million/yr. [Source: David Phelps, House passes nuclear waste storage after earlier defeat Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 20, 2003]

Minnesota legislature - regular session ends Monday night

"Special session certain", says state's biggest paper. It could start Tuesday morning. House could pass energy bill now or later. [Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Heading into overtime", May 19, 2003

May 14, 2003

Prairie Island costs increasing - 8 year trend

It cost $20.80 to generate a megawatt-hour of electricity at Prairie Island in 2002. This compares to $18.30 cost at Monticello. By comparison, Xcel paid $40.65 per megawatt-hour for power purchased from other sources in 2002, including delivery charges. The cost to generate a megawatt-hour of electricity has climbed an average of 93 cents a year at Xcel's nuclear plants since 1994 -- and all of that increase has come at Prairie Island, as Monticello costs have dropped an average of 2 cents a year over that eight-year span. Prairie Island had two refueling outages in 2002 - Monticello had none. [Source: David Hanners (Pioneer Press), "Plant repair questioned", St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 14, 2003]

May 13, 2003

State Senate authorizes more spent fuel casks

The state Senate of Minnesota worked into the wee hours and passed a bill last night to allow Prairie Island enough additional spent fuel casks to see the plant through current license. The bill removes future decisionmaking on casks from the legislature. That task, if necessary, will be performed by the Public Utilities Commission. The legislature gets final say on whether Prairie Island and Monticello can renew their license. The bill doubles the payments from Xcel to a fund supporting alternative energy, to about $17 million per year. The bill also requires Xcel to generate 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2015. The bill passed 42-24, and was considered a compromise: "It does keep the nuclear plants open," Sen. Ellen Anderson said. "And it moves us forward on a clean energy path." [Source: Patrick Howe (Associated Press Writer), "Senate passes nuclear waste bill", The Associated Press, May 13, 2003 3:09 AM Eastern Time]

May 12, 2003

Governor repeatedly asked feds to restrict airspace over n-plants in Minnesota

Gov. Tim Pawlenty was worried enough that terrorists might fly a plane into one of Minnesota's nuclear power plants that he asked the federal government in mid-March to restrict the airspace over them. "We asked and asked and asked, and told them it was a direct threat," Public Safety Commissioner Rich Stanek said. But the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) turned down the requests. Stanek said he and Pawlenty were somewhat calmed by assurances from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and managers of Xcel Energy's Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants that such an attack would trigger "a small radiological leak at most."

...Although elevated, Prairie Island's spent fuel pool has an extra layer of protection. Located inside a 100-foot-high building, it is surrounded by a huge concrete superstructure.

...Industry officials say the evidence indicates that even if terrorists blew a hole in one of the steel-and-concrete casks storing spent fuel outside the Prairie Island plant, it would not lead to a major radiation release.