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Aug 22, 2006 11:28 am US/Central
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Judge OKs Storing Nuclear Waste In Monticello
Monticello, Minn. (AP) ―
Xcel Energy may store nuclear waste in above ground containers at its Monticello, Minn. power plant, an administrative law judge had ruled.
The matter now goes to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, which is expected to take it up the issue in September. Xcel already uses a similar system at its Prairie Island nuclear plant near Red Wing, Minn.
Xcel wants to store the highly radioactive waste in steel and concrete containers at the Monticello plant as part of its application for a 20-year license extension. The plant's 40-year license expires in 2010.
Judge Steve Mihalchick ruled that storing the fuel somewhere else isn't an option, and closing the plant would hurt Xcel's customers and the public.
Some worry that storing the waste in the containers could pose health and environment problems.
Xcel has argued that keeping the plant open will keep down electricity prices and reduce air pollution.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)