Environmental Impact Statement - radioactive monticello

2.0 Description of Nuclear Power Plant and Site and
Plant Interaction with the Environment
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant (Monticello) is located in the City of Monticello, Wright
County, Minnesota, on the southern bank of the Mississippi River (River Mile [RM] 900). The
plant consists of one unit. The unit is a boiling-water reactor that produces steam which passes
through turbines to generate electricity. Plant cooling is primarily provided by an open-cycle
system that draws and discharges water to the Mississippi River. Monticello is also equipped
with two mechanical draft cooling towers which enable complete or partial recirculation of the
cooling water when required by special permit conditions. The plant and its environs are
described in Section 2.1, and the plant's interaction with the environment is presented in
Section 2.2.
2.1 Plant and Site Description and Proposed Plant Operation
During the Renewal Term
Monticello is located in central Minnesota on the southern bank of the Mississippi River,
approximately 22 mi southeast of St. Cloud, and 30 mi northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The
area within 6 mi of Monticello includes portions of Wright and Sherburne counties and is
primarily agricultural. The MontiCello site is located in a region dominated by rivers, streams,
* and lakes, with numerous public recreational and natural areas located within 50 mi of the site.
The site consists of 2150 ac with approximately 2 mi of frontage on the north and south banks
of the Mississippi River. Approximately 50 ac are occupied by the plant and its supporting
facilities (NMC 2005a). Figures 2-1 and 2-2 show the site location and features within 50 mi
and 6 mi, respectively.
2.1.1 External Appearance and Setting
Site structures include a reactor building, a turbine building, a radioactive-waste building, an
off-gas stack, two mechanical draft cooling towers, a diesel emergency generator building, and
the Monticello Substation. Transmission lines and corridors are also prominent features on and
near the Monticello site. The site's exclusion zone has been designated as being within the
Owner Controlled Area fence. Of the site's 2150,ac, approximately 450 ac are located on the
northern bank of the Mississippi River, with the majority of the acreage on the southern bank.
Approximately 50 ac on the southern bank are occupied by the facility structures, and the
remaining acres are undeveloped with land leased by local farmers for growing row crops, and
under lease for recreational use.
August 2006 2-1 NUREG-1437, Supplement 26 1