Radioactive Waste 155 - Confusion Over Decommissioning of San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant Near San Diego
The San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station near San Diego in California was shut down a few years ago because of damage to the piping system caused by new steam turbines. The new turbines were ordered from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) by Southern California Edison (SCE), the owner of the power plant. SCE told the NRC that there were no significant changes being made in the design of the steam turbines but they requested that MHI make significant changes. MHI ran computer simulations and told SCE that there could be problems with vibration in the new design. SCE went ahead and ordered the new turbines anyway. Within two years, the vibration problem became so acute that piping cracked and the reactors were shut down in 2012. After analyzing the problems, SCE decided that it would be too expensive to fix the turbines and pipes. The plant was permanently closed in 2013. SCE and MHI sued each other and the NRC criticized SCE for not being open about the changes in design.
This September, KNSD-TV Channel 7, an NBC TV affiliate in San Diego, investigated the San Onofre site. They reported that radioactive equipment from the plant had been stored on both sides of Interstate Highway 5. This included the beach between I-5 and the Pacific Ocean. The investigation also indicated that SCE had hidden evidence about some leaks at the plant. Documents provided by individuals negotiating with SCE about the future of the site revealed that there were often times when the radiation levels at the plant were so high that the inspectors from the NRC refused to carry out routine radiation surveys because they were afraid for their personal safety. One nuclear power expert said the documents provided to the investigators showed that the operators of the plant were "very, very sloppy, very, very careless in handling radioactive material."
Unfortunately, the documents did not pinpoint exact locations where the highest radiation levels could be found. Apparently the operators of the plant were so incompetent and/or indifferent that even though they knew there were dangerously radioactive "hot spots," they couldn't be bothered to note where they were.
A whistleblower and activist who was once with the Utility Consumers' Action Network said that " ...if (Southern California) Edison gets its way, we will never know (where the hot spots are) ... The answer is probably worse than we think." A former safety officer for the plant said that there should be a thorough and independent inspection of the plant before any plans are made for decommissioning. He said that the county should "Be very careful of the goods they accept from Edison with the blessings of the NRC."
The current plan being discussed by the county and SCE provides for part of the twenty five acres of the site to be turned into a temporary storage area for nuclear waste. The county has already agreed to a plan that would create underground storage bunkers for the radioactive waste that would be located within one hundred and twenty five feet of the ocean. The permit says that the waste can only be stored there for twenty years but does not say what must be done with the waste after the twenty five years have expired. A report created by county staff says that the site of the bunkers "...would eventually be exposed to coastal flooding and erosion hazards beyond its design capacity, or else would require protection by replacing or expanding the existing San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station shoreline armoring (sea wall) " and that "Retention of the (fuel storage site) beyond 2051 would have the potential to adversely affect marine and visual resources and coastal access."
The situation at San Onofre is another demonstration of the fact that the owners of nuclear power plants cannot be depended upon to be honest and competent when it comes to public safety. It is likely that whatever the ultimate disposition of the plant and the nuclear waste turns out to be, the ratepayers of the San Diego area and the taxpayers of California will wind up paying part of the cost.
San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station:
