Regular Meeting – SONGS CEP and Spent Fuel Solutions Coalition Joint Meeting

Jun 13, 2024
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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Key Takeaways

A joint meeting of the SONGS Community Engagement Panel and the Spent Fuel Solutions coalition included comments by Representative Mike Levin and a briefing on the past, present, and future of the federal spent nuclear fuel management program by Paul Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition at the US Department of Energy.

Representative Levin stated that, since taking office in 2019, a priority has been to relocate the spent fuel at SONGS as soon and safely as possible. He noted a successful bipartisan effort in Congress that provided appropriations for the DOE’s consent-based siting effort for federal consolidated interim storage facilities.

Spent Fuel Solutions coalition Co-Chairs Katrina Foley and Jim Desmond provided a recap of a recent trip to Washington DC to meet with Congressional leaders. CEP Chair Dan Stetson mentioned recently testifying before a Congressional subcommittee on spent fuel policy.

Murray outlined the DOE’s current work to provide operational consolidated federal interim storage of spent fuel in the 2038-2042 timeframe, as well as the need to develop a non-site-specific plan covering where we are today through siting, licensing, operating, and closure of a deep geologic repository for the permanent disposal of spent fuel.

Murray also discussed a number of near-term, trust-building demonstrations including a durability test to build trust and confidence in the safety of spent fuel transportation casks and moving a cask with “high burnup” fuel within the next few years.

SCE reported on the recent completion of the cutup and packaging of Greater Than Class-C material in the same type of containers used to store and transport spent fuel.

Stetson closed the meeting by stating that progress on spent fuel solutions is slow but DOE is building trust and making progress, and champions in Congress are emerging.

Shareables

  • Consider becoming a supporting member of the Spent Fuel Solutions coalition (it’s free)
  • Learn more about the DOE’s consent-based siting initiative to establish federal consolidated interim storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel from sites such as SONGS
  • Register for a tour of SONGS, stay up to date on the CEP, and/or book a speaker for a civic group meeting using the SONGS community engagement page

SONGS CEP Regular Meeting

Date: June 13, 2024

Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm (PST)

Location: Casino San Clemente, 140 Avenida Pico, San Clemente, CA. and online via Microsoft Teams (link provided below)

The parking surrounding the Casino San Clemente venue is metered. SCE will have parking passes at the entrance, so park and pick up your pass at the entrance and hang it on the review mirror. The venue parking passes are limited by the city and will be provided on a first come first serve basis. Free parking is available on side streets (refer to the CEP Meeting Fact Sheet for details).

How to Join the Meeting Virtually via Microsoft Teams

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How to Submit a Question/Comment

Early submittal of questions/comments before a CEP meeting increases the likelihood of a response during the meeting.

  • Questions and comments may be submitted via email to: nuccomm@songs.sce.com.
  • Questions and comments submitted in advance of the meeting and related to agenda topics will be—to the greatest extent possible—addressed in the presentation and/or discussed during facilitated public dialogue or, if necessary, responded to via email following the meeting.
  • Questions and comments received via NUCCOMM and related to agenda topics will be addressed first; questions on broader topics received during the public comment period will be addressed subsequently.

To submit questions/comments during a CEP meeting, use the CEP Comment Form link (if attending virtually) or use the hardcopy CEP Question/Comment Cards (if attending in-person) available at the registration table near the facility entrance.

  • Questions and comments will be added to the queue in order of receipt.
  • Questions and comments related to the meeting agenda topics will be —to the greatest extent possible—addressed during facilitated public dialogue or, if necessary, responded to via email following the meeting.
  • Victor Cabral and Martha McNicholas will facilitate the public dialogue portion of the meeting.

How to Sign Up to Speak

To sign up to speak:

  • Complete the CEP Comment Form (if attending virtually)
  • Complete the CEP Question/Comment card (including name) available at the registration table at the entrance of venue
  • The Chairman will call on individuals by name one at a time to speak
    • the Microsoft Teams microphone will be opened for each individual (if attending virtually)
    • each individual may speak at the microphone provided on the lectern at the facility
    • people in the room will speak first followed by those attending online

Each speaker will have three minutes to ask a question or deliver a comment.

Meeting Materials