header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
July 6
1850 - Henry Mayo Newhall arrives in California [story]


| Friday, Oct 18, 2019
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, off Interstate 5, North San Diego County, California. | Photo: JELSON25/Wikipedia.
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station off Interstate 5, North San Diego County, California. | Photo: JELSON25/Wikipedia.

 

SAN DIEGO – Amid a revived legal challenge over the storage of nuclear waste and public doubts over the safety of the decommissioning process of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, the California Coastal Commission unanimously approved demolition Thursday of the iconic Southern California nuclear power plant.

The California Coastal Commission – which approves development projects along the coastal zone – approved SONGS owner Southern California Edison and co-participants San Diego Gas & Electric and the cities of Riverside and Anaheim’s coastal development permit to decommission Units 2 and 3 – the iconic dome-shaped structures nestled between Interstate 5 and the Pacific Ocean between Oceanside and San Clemente.

The permit was approved with 19 special conditions including for the utility to waive any claim for damage or liability against the commission due to coastal hazards and to indemnify the commission against all liability or claims.

The utility will also be required to fund an independent, third-party review of its inspection and maintenance program by next March.

Spent nuclear waste from the facility – which was shuttered in 2012 following a reactor coolant leak – has already been moved into steel canisters and buried on the beach, a process which was stalled last fall after one of the canisters was nearly dropped 18 feet. The commission approved the permit to move nuclear waste in 2015, a process that is expected to be completed by next summer.

The day-long hearing ended with public outbursts and two breaks where commissioners left the Chula Vista City Council chambers where the meeting was held Thursday.

Commission Chair Dayna Bochco, exasperated when members of the public yelled comments including “Do the right thing,” pounded the table when someone yelled out asking for a roll call vote after she indicated the commission had unanimously voted to approve the permit outside the public hearing.

Scientists, engineers and concerned citizens who spoke at the meeting were split over whether the project should be approved, mainly because it calls for demolishing two spent fuel pools inside the units which could be used to repair cracked or leaking canisters in the event of a potential radiation breach.

But Tom Palmisano, SCE’s vice president of decommissioning and chief nuclear officer, unveiled a video at the meeting Thursday showing technology SCE had identified could employ robots to apply a nickel coating to the waste canisters while they’re in place.

A spokesman with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also confirmed the canisters in their current condition, including with scratches, pass muster to ship should a permanent nuclear waste repository be opened by the federal government.

The one point the room agreed on was the need to move the nuclear waste to a permanent location away from the coast.

Lt. Gov Eleni Kounalakis, who voted for the State Lands Commission to approve the Environmental Impact Report for SONGS decommissioning earlier this year said: “The main failure in all of this is the federal government guaranteed a permanent location for spent fuel and has failed to deliver on it.”

Bochco said the commission should consider if “this is one of those lawsuits we may want to pursue against the federal government.”

The approval Thursday comes amidst a renewed legal challenge in state court by the group Citizens Oversight which filed a motion to enforce a settlement agreement between it and the Coastal Commission and SCE from 2017.

Citizens Oversight claims SCE is not making good on its promise to make “commercially reasonable efforts” to relocate the nuclear waste away from the California coast.

A court hearing in the matter is scheduled for Nov. 1.

— By Bianca Bruno

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, Jul 5, 2024
Santa Clarita to Begin Annual Road Rehab
The city of Santa Clarita will soon begin construction work on the annual 2024 -2025 Road Rehab Program, which uses slurry seal and overlay road treatments to improve city roadways.
Friday, Jul 5, 2024
SCV Fourth of July Parade Trophy Winners
The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade Committee has announced the trophy award winners for the 2024 SCV Fourth of July Parade.
Friday, Jul 5, 2024
SCOTUS Restores Local Authority to Enforce Camping Regulations
The United States Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, recently issued a ruling that will increase the city of Santa Clarita's authority to enforce public camping ordinances that dictate where homeless people can camp and sleep.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1850 - Henry Mayo Newhall arrives in California [story]
The monthly meeting of the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, Aug. 19 will feature an artist demonstration by Derek Harrison. He will be conducting a portrait painting using a live model.
Aug. 19: SCAA Features Artist Demo by Derek Harrison
Burrtec Waste is hosting a free document shredding and textile drop-off event for city of Santa Clarita residents only on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. through noon at the Via Princessa Metrolink Station, 19201 Via Princessa, Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Aug. 10: Santa Clarita Document Shredding, Textile Drop-off Event
The city of Santa Clarita will soon begin construction work on the annual 2024 -2025 Road Rehab Program, which uses slurry seal and overlay road treatments to improve city roadways.
Santa Clarita to Begin Annual Road Rehab
The United States Youth Volleyball League (USYVL) registration for the 2024 fall program in the Santa Clarita Valley is now open.
Youth Volleyball Registration in SCV Now Open
The Valencia Library, 23743 West Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA 91355 will host Craig Newton for an interactive musical program, Wednesday, July 10 at 4 p.m. and another program at 4:30 p.m.
July 10: Craig Newton’s Interactive Musical Program
Patti Negri, renowned for her psychic abilities, will host “Hot Summer Seance,” at the MAIN, 24266 Main Street., Newhall, CA 91321 Friday, Aug. 2 from 8-10 p.m.
Aug. 2: ‘Hot Summer Séance’ with Patti Negri at The MAIN
The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade Committee has announced the trophy award winners for the 2024 SCV Fourth of July Parade.
SCV Fourth of July Parade Trophy Winners
The United States Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, recently issued a ruling that will increase the city of Santa Clarita's authority to enforce public camping ordinances that dictate where homeless people can camp and sleep.
SCOTUS Restores Local Authority to Enforce Camping Regulations
A night of nothing but military-related stories in music with a dash of micro-fiction/prose poetry by Robert Morgan Fisher will be at the MAIN, 24266 Main Street., Newhall, CA 91321 Thursday, Aug. 1 from 8-10 p.m.
Aug. 1: A Night of Narrative Jokin’ Folkin’ Funny Story Songs at The MAIN
With wildfire smoke and reduced air quality affecting many California communities, the California Department of Public Health is urging Californians to take steps to protect themselves from air pollutants.
CDPH Urges Californians to Avoid Wildfire Smoke
The Los Angeles County Health Officer has issued an update for the excessive heat warning and advisory as high temperatures have been forecast for Los Angeles County.
Excessive Heat Warning, Advisory Updated by County Health
Visit the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library, 18601 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351 on Tuesday, July 9 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. to create beautiful artwork from melting old crayons.
July 9: Crayon Melting at Canyon Country Library
The Sierra Hillbillies Square and Round Dance Club is hosting and Black and White Masquerade square dance 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 7.
July 7: Sierra Hillbillies Host ‘Masquerade’ Square Dance
Growing up in the 1980s, I have many fond memories of spending time with friends at the Skate-N-Place on Soledad Canyon Road.
Cameron Smyth | The Rink is Rolling Along
1914 - Rev. Wolcott H. Evans, the future "pastor of the disaster," named pastor of Newhall's First Presbyterian Church [story]
church
The Canyon Theatre Guild will present Santa Clarita Regional Theatre's production of "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons.
July 20-Aug. 11: ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid’ at Performing Arts Center
The 92nd annual Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade attracted thousands to the streets of Old Town Newhall to cheer more than 100 parade entries representing politicians, scout troops, businesses, nonprofits, fraternal organizations and others.
SCV Parade Marches Through Old Town Newhall
The Santa Clarita City Council is scheduled to discuss the transfer of William S. Hart Park to Los Angeles County at the Council's regular meeting Tuesday, July 9, at 6 p.m.
City to Discuss Hart Park Transfer from L.A. County
"Shrek Jr. The Musical," presented by Canyon Theatre Guild’s STARS program, will perform weekends from July 6 to July 14.
‘Shrek Jr. The Musical’ Coming to Canyon Theatre Guild
The history of the United States of America Flag was shared by Santa Clarita Elks Lodge 2379 officers at their annual Flag Day Ceremony, which was held June 14.
Elks Lodge Honors American Flag at Annual Ceremony
1932 - Robert Poore wins the greased pole climbing contest and $2.50 at Newhall's July 4th celebration [story]
4th of July Parade
Celebrate the Fourth of July in Santa Clarita with a full day of festive events including a run, pancake breakfast, parade and fireworks.
Celebrate Fourth of July in the Santa Clarita Valley
SCVNews.com