The California State Lands Commission announced Tuesday that it would develop a draft environmental impact report for the decommissioning of last two reactor units at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in San Diego County. It is accepting public input on the scope of the project through Aug. 15, with two meetings scheduled for later this month.
Southern California Edison (SCE) in 2013 permanently shut down SONGS reactor Units 2 and 3 prematurely following troubles with newly purchased steam generators. Unit 1 was retired in 1992 and subsequently decommissioned.
Decommissioning is scheduled to begin next year and continue through 2051, covering four distinct phases, according to the state project description: decontamination and dismantlement, from 2017 to 2025; partial site restoration and offshore conduit disposition, from 2020 to 2035; operation and maintenance of the independent spent fuel storage installation, from 2035 to 2049; and ISFSI removal and final site restoration, from 2049 to 2051.
SCE, the plant’s majority owner, has said it expects to select a prime contractor for the decommissioning this summer. The bidders for the forecast $4.4 billion project are Team Holtec, a team led by Bechtel, and an AECOM/EnergySolutions partnership.
The environmental impact report will address potential effects of decommissioning on environmental aesthetics, air quality and greenhouse gases, marine and land biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils, and other areas.
Public meetings on the scope of the EIR are scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, at the Oceanside City Hall, Civic Center Library, 300 North Coast Highway in Oceanside; and noon Wednesday, July 27, at the San Clemente High School theater, 700 Avenida Pico in San Clemente.
Written comments can also be submitted by Aug. 15 to State Lands Commission Senior Environmental Scientist Cynthia Herzog, by email at [email protected]; or by mail at 100 Howe Ave., Suite 100-South, Sacramento, VA 95825.
