The crippled San Onofre nuclear power plant has posed an unnecessary risk to our environment and our communities. It has also left Southern California Edison ratepayers footing a 670.8 million dollar bill for critically-flawed steam generator equipment. Lax oversight on the part of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) allowed this to happen. On June 18th, we have our first opportunity to hold the NRC accountable. Your voice is needed! Please attend this meeting.
On January 31st, a steam generator tube ruptured in San Onofre reactor Unit 3, releasing radioactive steam into the environment. Further inspection revealed unprecedented, accelerated wear in the recently replaced steam generators of both reactor Units 2 and 3.
According to reports by nuclear expert, Arnie Gundersen, these replacement steam generators contain significant design changes. These changes should have required a full license amendment process, with a public hearing. Instead, NRC Region IV accepted Southern California Edison’s word and allowed these replacement steam generators to be licensed under a perfunctory, rubberstamp process.
The NRC responded to these significant steam generator problems by deploying an Augmented Inspection Team (AIT). However, this team is under the oversight of Region IV, the same NRC office that rubberstamped the critically-flawed replacement steam generators initially.
On Monday, June 18th, the NRC will hold a preliminary public hearing on the AIT findings. However, the NRC has released no prior documentation to enable the public to make fully-informed inquiries into this process. This meeting is a gesture in the direction of transparency. However, there has been no real commitment to public engagement and the dissemination of information.
We must hold them accountable. Please come to the hearing, bring friends, and make your voices heard! Our communities deserve safety and transparency!
LOCATION:
San Juan Capistrano Community Center
Community Hall
25925 Camino Del Avion
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
For further information, please contact Gene Stone
For copy of official NRC Meeting notice and NRC Contact information go to
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML1215/ML12159A310.pdf Gene Stone
Residents Organized For a Safe Environment (ROSE)
On twitter @gene_stone
http://residentsorganizedforasafeenvironment.wordpress.com/ www.sanonofre.com