By Eric Heinz
In a June 4 press release from Southern California Edison, Thomas Palmisano, vice president of the SONGS decommissioning and chief nuclear officer, stated the Nuclear Regulation Commission had loosened its grip on some of the mandates for San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted Southern California Edison’s request to alter the emergency preparedness plan for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station to reflect the plant’s decommissioning status,” an NRC press release stated. “As a result, there will not be a 10-mile emergency planning zone identified in the license for SONGS. The plant will maintain an onsite emergency plan and response capabilities, including the continued notification of state and local government officials for an emergency declaration.”
Palmisano said in the release that SEC will maintain the majority of its safety preparedness, but the alterations mean the company will no longer be required to maintain pre-planned, off-site radiological area emergency plans for the 10-mile designated zone.
The release stated since the reactors had been shut down, there is not as high a level of danger from accidents as in the past, but it does still have more than 1,600 tons of nuclear waste below the station. Emergency drills will continue be practiced at SONGS.
The SONGS Decommissioning Education Fair is scheduled 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9 at the Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Pkwy.
Update information about SONGS can be found at www.songscommunity.com.
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