Decommissioning San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
Southern California Edison is safely decommissioning San Onofre in full compliance with state and federal regulations. We are doing so in a timely manner, while sharing information and updates with the public.
We are committed to meeting our responsibilities and doing the right thing for our region throughout this process. Our core principles are Safety, Stewardship and Engagement.
SCE formally notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on June 12, 2013, that it had permanently ceased operation of Units 2 and 3 on June 7, 2013. The notification, called a Certification of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations, set the stage for SCE to begin preparations for decommissioning and dismantling the plant.
Decommissioning is a well-defined NRC process that involves safely transferring the used nuclear fuel into storage, followed by the eventual removal and disposal of radioactive components and materials from the site. Any residual radioactivity will be reduced in a manner and to a level that is safe for unrestricted use by SCE’s employees and the public. This will support the termination of SCE’s NRC license and return of site to its owner, the U.S. Navy.
Safely Dismantling SONGS
Five years ago on Oct. 16, the California Coastal Commission unanimously granted Southern California Edison a Coastal Development Permit for the dismantlement of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
With CDP in hand, SCE could begin work with its contractors to remove structures from the site for eventual return to the U.S. Navy.
Five years on, much has changed at SONGS thanks to the hard work and dedication to safety by the dismantlement team.
SONGS Decommissioning Solutions (SDS) is our decommissioning general contractor. The project is expected to create about 600 jobs during the 8-to-10-year dismantlement phase, and the majority of the labor force will be hired locally from the San Diego region.
At the link below you’ll find detailed information about how we’re reducing public impacts and maintaining public access to areas close to the site during this process.
Our Guiding Principles
SCE and the current and former San Onofre owners responsible for decommissioning have established core principles of Safety, Stewardship and Engagement to guide the long and complex decommissioning process. These guiding principles support SCE's vision of making the decommissioning of the San Onofre nuclear plant a model for the nuclear industry.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Inspection Reports
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission continues to conduct on-site inspections of SONGS during decommissioning. These reviews include quarterly decommissioning inspections, spent fuel storage inspections and security inspections.