Decomm Digest
We’re providing up-to-date facts and information to answer your most important questions about decommissioning at SONGS.
Decomm Digest - SONGS "Watchdogs" Keep a Close Eye on Environment - Dec. 14, 2020
Environmental stewardship is a key part of successfully dismantling SONGS. Find out how our team monitors the air, earth and water around the plant to ensure minimal impacts.
Decomm Digest - Fire Watch Plays Critical Safety Role - Nov. 16, 2020
During the dismantlement of SONGS, designated Fire Watches play a critical role in maintaining high levels of safety.
Decomm Digest - Update on Water Batch Releases - Oct. 19, 2020
Some of the water batch releases to the ocean that we began last December are increasing in volume, but still maintaining just a trace of radioactivity.
Decomm Digest - First Railcar Waste Shipment Leaves SONGS - Oct. 10, 2020
The first of what will be many railcar waste shipments left SONGS on Oct. 7 bound for Clive, Utah. Read more about that and other decommissioning activities in the first installment of Decomm Digest.
Holtec CEO Clarifies Comments to Community Engagement Panel - Sept. 22, 2020
In a letter to Community Engagement Panel chairman Dr. David Victor, Holtec's CEO and chief technology officer, Dr. Kris Singh, clarified comments he made to the CEP at a meeting in October 2014. The comments regarding repair methods for a spent nuclear fuel canister, and whether such a repair could be safely undertaken, have been misconstrued by some members of the public to say a canister can't be repaired.
Activist Group Misrepresents Spent Fuel Storage Canister Warranty, Risks - Aug. 29, 2020
There is a difference between a standard manufacturer's warranty and the service life of the canisters. That difference is 75 years.
Focus Shifts to Domes with All Spent Fuel in Dry Storage - Aug. 19, 2020
With all spent nuclear fuel out of wet storage pools and into dry storage, dismantlement work ramps up in the iconic containment domes.
Reef Project Wraps Up, on Budget, Ahead of Schedule - July 21, 2020
Work to expand the Wheeler North Reef off the Orange County coast is complete. The 374-acre reef will bring environmental benefits for decades to come.
SCE Responds to Water Quality Control Board over Wastewater Release - June 15, 2020
Southern California Edison sent a report today to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board related to the March 25 wasterwater release from the SONGS sewage treatment plant.
Fuel Transfer Operations Update - May 14, 2020
Southern California Edison is providing updates on progress made in the movement of spent nuclear fuel from wet to dry storage at SONGS.
Update on Wastewater Release from SONGS Sewage Treatment Plant - April 23, 2020
Southern California Edison received a Notice of Violation and Investigative Order from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board regarding the March 25 wastewater release.
SCE Provides Information on COVID-19 Response and Wastewater Release - April 10, 2020
Doug Bauder, v.p. and chief nuclear officer at San Onofre, provides information to Rep. Mike Levin regarding the SONGS response to COVID-19 and a March 25 wastewater release.
A Letter from Edison International President and CEO Pedro J. Pizarro - April 2, 2020
Edison International President and CEO Pedro J. Pizarro responded to a letter sent by Rep. Mike Levin regarding COVID-19 and a wastewater release.
Fuel Transfer Operations Update - March 19, 2020
We're providing periodic updates on the movement of spent nuclear fuel from wet to dry storage at SONGS.
Putting a Cork in the Yellowstone Effect - Feb. 13, 2020
We set the record straight on "radioactive geysers" at SONGS. (Spoiler alert: they can't happen.)
Brief Power Outage at SONGS - Jan. 29, 2020
Power was restored at SONGS following a 44-minute outage. The outage stemmed from an issue with off-site power lines.
Fuel Transfer Operations Update - Jan. 19, 2020
Southern California Edison is currently placing 73 canisters of spent nuclear fuel into dry storage at San Onofre nuclear plant. In this latest update on fuel transfer operations, we look at the download of canister 46 and how improvements made last year to FTO helped the crew be successful.
Fuel Transfer Operations Update - Dec. 18, 2019
Southern California Edison is transferring spent nuclear fuel from wet to dry storage at the San Onofre nuclear plant. In this latest update we talk about the progress so far and the latest Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspection report.
Keeping it Factual - Response to L.A. Times Op-Ed by Dr. Kate Brown - Nov. 23, 2019
Last year, SONGS was a "Fukushima waiting to happen." This year, SONGS is a "Chernobyl waiting to happen." Both comparisons are wildly off-base. Read our full response to the Times.
SCE Releases Comprehensive Overview of Dry Spent Fuel Storage at SONGS - Nov. 12, 2019
In 2014, SCE selected the Holtec UMAX dry spent fuel storage system to hold the remaining spent nuclear fuel on site at SONGS. Following a meeting May 29 with Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49), SCE agreed to produce an evaluation of any meaningful, factual, and science-based changes to on-site spent fuel storage systems and technology since 2014. SCE released the document today.
Half-way Point Reached, Passed on Fuel Transfer Operations -
Nov. 1, 2019
Today, crews successfully downloaded canister #38 into the Holtec dry spent fuel storage system. Continuous improvement of fuel transfer operations is the focus.
Details on Canister Inspection Photos – Oct. 12, 2019
Recently released photos from SCE's industry leading canister inspections may not tell the whole story. Read our latest post to understand the analysis that went into reading the high-resolution photos and what it told us and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
SC Green Getting it Wrong – Oct. 10, 2019
A San Clemente activist group recently sent out erroneous information about spent nuclear fuel canisters at SONGS, and across the nation.
SONGS Fuel Transfer Update – Sept. 16, 2019
Canisters #32 and #33 were safely downloaded. We're providing a brief update on how the work progressed.
NRC Public Meeting on Community Advisory Boards - Aug. 29, 2019
The NRC will host a public meeting on Community Advisory Boards and decommissioning on Aug. 29 at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. More information can be found on the NRC website.
Looking Back and Looking Forward – Aug. 20, 2019
As work begins this week to load and transfer spent nuclear fuel canister #32, we take a look back at how the process went for canisters #30 & #31, and the lessons-learned.
Solana Beach City Council Resolution – July 3, 2019
The Solana Beach City Council recently passed a resolution that contained multiple errors regarding nuclear energy regulations and spent nuclear fuel storage. We "correct the record" in this post.
Canister Inspection White Paper – June 3, 2019
The expected incidental contact during the downloading of canisters into the Holtec HI-STORM UMAX system at SONGS does not produce significant wear marks or scratches affecting the safety function of the canisters.
Seismic Safety at SONGS – May 22, 2019
The spent nuclear fuel storage systems at the San Onofre nuclear plant are designed and constructed with seismic safety top of mind.
SCE Conducts Inspections of Spent Fuel Canisters – March 27, 2019
Southern California Edison recently performed detailed inspections of three Holtec multipurpose spent fuel canisters, including the canister downloaded on Aug. 3, 2018.
An Update from Tom Palmisano on Fuel Transfer Operations – March 19, 2019
Changes made to the program since Aug. 3, 2018 and the path forward.
Responses to Public Questions from Nov. 29 CEP Meeting – March 7, 2019
California State Lands Commission Releases Final EIR – Feb. 11, 2019
Correcting the Record: Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage at SONGS – Jan. 15, 2019
Coalition Urges Federal Action on Long Term Storage – Dec. 4, 2018
National coalition urges immediate congressional action to revitalize the federal used nuclear fuel program.
Decommissioning a Nuclear Power Plant - Frequently Asked Questions – Nov. 29, 2018
Update to CEP Members on Fuel Transfer Operations – Oct. 19, 2018
Tom Palmisano, vice president of external engagement, provides an update to Community Engagement Panel members regarding the ongoing work to strengthen spent nuclear fuel transfer operations.