During its recent refueling outage, USA fleet member Xcel Energy’s Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant completed the final projects required in EA-12-049 Mitigation Strategies for Beyond Design Basis External Events (FLEX) and EA-12-051 Spent Fuel Pool Instrumentation (SFPI). The station implemented the NRC’s Orders May 19.

The most significant outcome of all the improvements is that Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant can now maintain core cooling, preserve containment and ensure the fuel in the spent fuel pool remains covered in water for any external event that impacts its normal power source and normal access to the Mississippi River for cooling.

“We have taken a plant that has operated safely for over 40 years and made a dramatic increase in our defense-in-depth and ability to protect the health and safety of the public,” Pete Gardner, site vice president said. “Xcel Energy teams at both its power plants and within its corporate nuclear organization worked hard to implement the Orders. This is an important accomplishment for the station and Xcel Energy’s fleet.”

This is the testing setup/sequence for the Division I D52 battery charger terminations. A 120 kW portable diesel generator set was connected to the battery chargers to test readiness for a Fukushima-like disaster at the station.