Coastal Commission Approves Extension for NUHOMS ISFSI Coastal Development Permit

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Oct. 13, 2022 — The California Coastal Commission today unanimously approved an extension of the Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the existing TN-NUHOMS dry fuel storage system at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Commission staff recommended the extension after reviewing the results of ongoing monitoring and inspections designed to ensure the safety of the system, as well as a thorough analysis confirming the integrity of its location.

Originally approved in 2001, the CDP was set to expire later this year. Today’s action extends it to 2035 in alignment with the term of the CDP for the other dry fuel storage system at San Onofre, which was approved in 2015. Together, the two systems comprise the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at the site and contain 123 canisters of spent nuclear fuel.

“We appreciate the commissioners’ support for the permit and their due diligence in verifying the system remains in a condition that continues to protect the health and safety of the public and the natural environment while the fuel is stored here,” said Ron Pontes, SCE general manager for environmental, waste and radiation protection.

The TN-NUHOMS system has safely stored spent nuclear fuel from San Onofre Units 1, 2 and 3 since 2003. SCE has conducted thorough inspections and monitoring of the system over the years, including using robots to examine the surface of two canisters last November, under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission-required Aging Management Program. The canisters are in excellent condition, showing no signs of degradation, and fully capable of off-site transportation. More information regarding these successful inspections can be found here.

Further, the location of the NUHOMS ISFSI remains secure based on the commission’s previous analysis and staff’s reevaluation based on the best available science that has emerged since the 2001 CDP was issued. That reevaluation considered a rigorous review of extreme scenarios, such as sea level rise, seismic and tsunami events and bluff retreat adjacent to San Onofre.

SCE remains highly committed to the safe storage of its spent fuel while also pursuing ways to relocate it to a licensed off-site facility. As part of its 2021 Strategic Plan, SCE co-founded the Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now coalition with San Onofre’s co-owners and San Diego and Orange counties. The coalition has more than 200 members and is actively pursuing necessary changes to federal law that will allow for a broader range of storage options.

For more information about San Onofre, visit songscommunity.com and follow us on Twitter (@SCE_SONGS) and Facebook (@SONGScommunitypage).

Media Contact: Liese Mosher, (626) 302-2255

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE: EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.