NRC Cites Security Violation At Prairie Island

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Federal regulators have cited Xcel Energy Inc. for a security violation at its Prairie Island nuclear plant.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission provided few details in Thursday's filing. But it says inspectors deemed it had "at least low to moderate security significance."

NRC spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng says the security issue was spotted during an inspection last October and was corrected immediately. Xcel wasn't fined, but she says the agency will conduct follow-up inspections. She says the plant has not been cited for similar violations in the recent past.

Mitlyng says the NRC doesn't release specifics on security deficiencies to prevent the information from being used against a plant.

Xcel Energy spokeswoman Mary Sandok says the utility takes this very seriously and will review the NRC's determination before deciding whether to appeal.

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