Agencies Near SONGS to No Longer Stockpile Potassium Iodide Pills for Radiation Leaks

Federal and Orange County health officials have determined that cities surrounding San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station no longer have to stock up on potassium iodide pills to be used in the event of a radiation leak.

In June 2013, Southern California Edison decided to shutter the nuclear power plant which was taken offline in January 2012 after a small radioactive steam leak that revealed new steam generators at the plant were riddled with faulty components.

"Due to the fact that SONGS has been shut down for over two years and is in the process of permanent decommissioning, and because there is no longer a risk of a [radioactive] iodine-131 release based on the reasons stated above, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Eric Handler agrees with statements issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency  that [potassium iodide] is no longer a necessary protective measure," says a press release from the city of San Clemente issued today.

The city of San Clemente, along with San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Diego County, Camp Pendleton and the Capistrano Unified School District all maintained stashes of potassium iodine, also called KI, in the event of an emergency.

KI is used to protect the thyroid gland from a specific type of radioactive iodine (iodine-131), which could be released to the environment in a nuclear power plant accident.

"Remaining KI will be returned and disposed of when expired," according to the San Clemente press release.

From the release:

Suspending the distribution of KI in no way negates or downplays any recognition of radiological hazards still existing at SONGS. As long as these hazards exist the city of San Clemente will maintain a vigilant and robust emergency response capability.

For more information, please contact Katie Carpenter, City of San Clemente Emergency Planning Coordinator at (949) 361-6109.

“As a member of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station’s Community Engagement Panel, I am committed to doing my part to serve as a conduit of information between the plant owners and the public with respect to decommissioning activities,” said Mayor Tim Brown.

“I welcome the public to attend our next regular meeting on August 14th in Oceanside.“ The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Quantum Learning Center, Da Vinci Room at 1938 Avenida Del Oro, Oceanside and will also be webcast at http://www.songscommunity.com/.