Regular Meeting - SONGS Dismantlement Update by San Onofre DecommissioningSolutions

Sep 05, 2024
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Key Takeaways

SCE’s decommissioning general contractor provided an overview of the latest dismantlement work at the retired San Onofre nuclear plant during a public meeting of the SONGS Community Engagement Panel (CEP) on Sept. 5. The contractor, San Onofre DecommissioningSolutions, just reached a major milestone with the demolition of the control building that once housed the plant’s nuclear operations center.

CEP Chair Dan Stetson highlighted a demonstration by the Department of Energy at a shake table at UC San Diego on July 18 during which a full-sized canister with dummy fuel assemblies was subjected to forces generated by a maximum credible earthquake for San Onofre.
Co-Chairs of the Spent Fuel Solution coalition, Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley and San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, delivered updates on efforts to clear San Onofre of spent fuel. Supervisor Foley reported on the Canadian spent fuel management program that is in the final stages of identifying an informed and willing community to host the country’s deep geologic repository for the permanent disposal of spent fuel. Supervisor Desmond reported on the California legislature’s adoption of Assembly Joint Resolution 18 that sent a strong message to Congressional leaders about the need for solutions.

The SCE team covered other topics of interest, including the recent rail shipment of large components called “pressurizers,” one of which was found to be leaking water and was returned to San Onofre for evaluation and corrective actions to prevent a reoccurrence. Other topics included the cleanup and release of wastewater in keeping with federal regulations and recent approvals of minor “immaterial” amendments to permits by the California Coastal Commission.

Of note was that SCE has identified an emergent issue with slightly elevated levels of tritium in groundwater, although at low levels that do not present a risk to public health and safety. SCE committed to keeping the communities updated on the matter as more is learned and mitigations are developed and implemented over time.

In closing the meeting, Stetson commented on the wide range of topics discussed, from dismantlement work to the tritium matter. He stated it will be helpful to continue to get updates from SCE on matters such as the pressurizer shipment and tritium, even though neither present a risk to public health and safety.

Shareables

  • Watch a brief video of the recent shake table demonstration at UC San Diego
  • Learn more about AJR18 that was introduced by Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) and Senator Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas) and adopted by both chambers
  • Stay up to date SONGS www.SONGScommunity.com

SONGS CEP Regular Meeting

Date: September 5, 2024

Time: 2:00 – 5:00 pm (PST) / 5:00 – 8:00 pm (EST)

Location: via Microsoft Teams (link provided below)

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  • 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.
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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.

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To sign up to speak:

  • Complete the CEP Comment Form (if attending virtually)
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Each speaker will have three minutes to ask a question or deliver a comment.

Meeting Materials