2017: Tracking Federal Legislation that address next steps needed to remove spent nuclear fuel from onsite dry storage at San Onofre
US Rep. D. Issa introduced H. R. 474, Interim Consolidated Storage Act of 2017, on Jan. 12, 2017
A BILL: To amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to authorize the Secretary of Energy to enter into contracts for the storage of certain high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, take title to certain high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and make certain expenditures from the Nuclear Waste Fund.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/474/text
Sierra Club has not endorsed H.R. 474. However, the Angeles Chapter San Onofre Task Force has highlighted important language included in H.R. 474 for consideration in any future Federal legislation needed to authorize and fund long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel as follows:
"priority for storage given to high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel located on sites without an operating nuclear reactor."
The San Onofre plant was shut down in 2013 and is one of several closed commercial nuclear power plants in the US with spent nuclear fuel left in onsite storage. Removal of such stranded spent nuclear fuel is not currently a priority in federal law. The Angeles Chapter is pressing for removal of all stranded spent nuclear fuel as a top priority when the Department of Energy is able to accept it for long-term storage.
Chapter's stance on what to do with San Onofre's spent nuclear fuel
SOUTHERN SIERRAN
Nov. 13, 2013
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Sierra Club seeks a 'better outcome' for closed San Onofre nuclear power plant
MEDIA NOTICE
Stop the Nuclear Waste Con!
November 14, 2013 (Carlsbad, CA)
The NRC Draft Waste Confidence Generic Environmental Impact Statement is Unacceptable.
Much of it appears to be based on unsubstantiated hope.
WHAT: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting to receive comments on the Draft Waste Confidence Generic Environmental Impact Statement Report and Proposed Rule.
WHEN: MONDAY, November 18, 2013
5 p.m. CDSO Press Conference
5 - 7 p.m. Overpass Light Brigade
6 - 7 p.m. NRC Open House (Q&A with NRC Staff)
7 - 10 p.m. NRC Public Comment Meeting
WHERE: Sheraton Carlsbad Resort and Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad CA 92008
MEDIA NOTICE
Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre
READ SUMMARY OF REMARKS BY SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Saturday, October 19, 2013 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m.
Center for Spiritual Living,1201 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673.
Press Conference: 1:00 pm, Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the same location
In June, civic and environmental activists won a big victory when the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant ceased operations permanently. The current dispute over defective technology between Edison and Mitsubishi confirms how necessary this outcome was.
Environmental and citizen groups had only a short time to celebrate averting the risk posed by continued operation of the plant. Almost immediately it became clear that this site, wedged between Interstate 5 and the Pacific shoreline, poses a huge challenge of radioactive nuclear waste stored at the plant.
Comunicado de Prensa
Simposio Comunitario sobre el Desmantelamiento de San Onofre
Sábado, 19 de Octubre, 2013, 1:30 a 4:30 p.m.
Center for Spiritual Living, 1201 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673
Conferencia de Prensa: 1:00 p.m., Sábado, 19 de Octubre, 2013, en el mismo lugar
En Junio activistas cívicos y del medioambiente lograron una gran victoria cuando la accidentada planta nuclear de San Onofre dejo de operar permanentemente. Actualmente el conflicto sobre tecnología defectuosa entre Edison y Mitsubishi confirma lo importante de este resultado.
Las organizaciones civiles y medioambientales tuvieron poco tiempo para celebrar el cierre de operaciones y el riesgo que sostiene esta planta. Casi inmediatamente fue evidente que la ubicación de la planta, entre la autopista Interestatal 5 y la Costa del Pacifico, presenta enormes desafíos para guardar residuos radioactivos.
KUCI Radio Talk Show Interview with Glenn Pascall about Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre
Tue, 08 Oct 2013 08:30
KUCI: The Heather McCoy Show
http://www.kuci.org/
Estrogen & Protein For Your Mind, Copyright 2005
Glenn Pascall joins us to talk about the aftermath of closing San Onofre Nuclear power plant as well as the Community Symposium on Decommissioning San Onofre which will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2013 1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. at the Center for Spiritual Living,1201 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 100, San Clemente, CA 92673.
Podcast:
http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/1144/Glenn%20Pascall%20interview%2010%2007%2013.mp3
SOUTHERN SIERRAN
Sept. 29, 2013
San Onofre nuclear power plant: High burn-up fuel used at the decomissioned site raises new concerns.
SOUTHERN SIERRAN
June. 18, 2013
San Onofre: A hard-won victory
Author: Glenn Pascall, Chair, San Onofre Task Force
Environmental activists and local citizens breathed a collective sigh of relief on June 7 when Southern California Edison announced it was abandoning efforts to restart the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant near San Clemente. ...
Failed San Onofre Nuclear Plant to Close, Persistent Protest Pays Off
June 7, 2013 – A red letter day in Southern California as Edison International announces the closure of the failed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) near San Clemente, California.
Thousands of Sierra Club activists joined many environmental organizations to protest the promised partial restart of one nuclear generator by Edison, and how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was evaluating that request. We will post reactions of many of those activists and organizations throughout the day.
Read the full statement released today by Edison international..
Follow comments on our news blog or Facebook.
Related news stories:
LA Times: Edison will shut down the San Onofre nuclear plant for good
Orange County Register: San Onofre nuclear plant to shut permanently, Edison says
The News Tribune: Calif. utility will close troubled nuclear plant
Wall Street Journal: Edison International to Permanently Retire Two Units at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
KUCI 88.9FM interview with Glenn Pascall - Audio Stream Available Soon
On Wednesday, May 1, Glenn Pascall, chair of the San Onofre Task Force, Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, was interviewed on KUCI at 88.9 FM in Irvine.
Non-Profits for Us with Deanne
Focus on Non-Profits — People, Structure, Events
An interview with San Onofre Task Force Chair Glenn Pascall. The Sierra Club is urging public support on saying no to Southern California Edison's request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to restart generating unit 2 at San Onofre.
KUCI broadcasts at 88.9FM to the Irvine, CA and UCI area, and can be heard in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Orange and Tustin.
PRESS RELEASE: February 12, 2013
San Onofre Restart Requires Thorough and Transparent NRC Hearings
In January 2013, the San Onofre Task Force of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter delivered a statement to Dr. Allison M. Macfarlane, Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), entitled “Twelve Reasons to Retire San Onofre”. Today as the NRC meets in Capistrano Beach, CA to discuss the current regulatory oversight status of San Onofre nuclear power plant, the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter will deliver two messages reflecting the critical nature of issues related to restart of the San Onofre nuclear generators. MORE>>
PRESS RELEASE: December 13, 2012
Twelve Reasons to Retire San Onofre
12/13/2012 - The problems facing the operators of the San Onofre nuclear power plant raise fundamental concerns. We do not believe it makes sense to try to resuscitate this aging and deeply troubled power plant in the face of these hurdles.
1. Computer modeling by Mitsubishi did not predict serious defects with its steam generator design.
2. The steam generators system failure is unprecedented and still unexplained.
3. Operating a restarted Unit 2 under partial power may be impacted negatively by failures and shutdowns in the facility housing it.
4. The costs per kilowatt and in total for partial operation may exceed those for full operation.
5. Workforce instability may impact plant safety and reliability.
6. Sabotage exposure may increase costs for enhanced security.
7. The plant’s tidewater location exposes it to earthquake and tsunami risks.
8. Attempting to evacuate more than 8 million people from the local area would create unmanageable gridlock if a crisis occurred.
9. Personal injury liability exposure would increase in a restart due to the level of known risks and concerns.
10. Rear-guard action to keep the plant going neglects development of forward-looking alternatives to meet regional energy demands.
11. Regulators have put retroactive ratepayer rebates on the table that would offset utility revenue from a recently approved rate structure.
12. Costs of operation could easily outweigh investor return expected from keeping part of the plant open, preventing cost recovery.
Read the full statement. MORE>>
Read the Press Release. MORE>>
Sierra Club seeks rate reprieve
Stop the Ratepayer Subsidy, Make Shareholders Accountable
10/26/2012 - San Onofre has been shut since January yet ratepayers have been paying $54 million a month in charges for the plant – an average $10 for each household in its service area. The defective system that forced shutdown cost $771 million yet only $137 million is recoverable through the manufacturer’s warranty.
Press Release. MORE>>
Sierra Club statement. MORE>>
Glenn Pascall delivers statement. VIDEO>>