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Independent regulatory commissions

Xcel Energy Requests One-Time Exemption from Biennial Emergency Preparedness Exercise Requirements due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has received a request from Xcel Energy, the operator of the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant, to postpone the biennial emergency preparedness exercise until 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The exercise, scheduled for December 1, 2020, has been postponed due to concerns about the safety of participants and the feasibility of conducting the exercise during the pandemic. Xcel Energy has requested a one-time exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 50, Appendix E, Sections IV.F.2.b and IV.F.2.c, citing the guidance provided in a letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Key Takeaways:

  • Xcel Energy has requested a one-time exemption from the biennial emergency preparedness exercise requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The exercise, originally scheduled for December 1, 2020, has been postponed until 2021.
  • The postponement is based on guidance provided in two letters from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated May 14, 2020, and September 2, 2020.
  • The State of Minnesota, Goodhue County, Dakota County, the State of Wisconsin, and Pierce County have communicated their concerns about supporting the biennial exercise in 2020 due to the pandemic.
  • Xcel Energy has not made any new commitments or revised existing commitments.
  • The request for exemption is subject to approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission by December 31, 2020.

Statistics:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic was declared a public health emergency by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on January 31, 2020 (Source: [1] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated May 14, 2020).
  • The World Health Organization characterized the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (Source: [1] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated May 14, 2020).
  • The President of the United States declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency on March 13, 2020 (Source: [1] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated May 14, 2020).
  • 84% of the Prairie Island emergency planning zone is located in the State of Wisconsin (Source: [2] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated September 2, 2020).
  • Xcel Energy has postponed some site activities due to the pandemic, including social distancing measures and group size limitations (Source: [1] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, dated May 14, 2020).

Sources:

  • [1] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, "U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Planned Actions Related to Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Requirements for All Licensees During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Emergency," dated May 14, 2020 (Accession No. ML20120A003)
  • [2] Letter from the NRC to the Nuclear Energy Institute, "Addendum to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Planned Actions Related to Emergency Preparedness Biennial Exercise Requirements for Power Reactor Licensees During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Emergency," dated September 2, 2020 (Accession No. ML20223A152)

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