NRC to Hold Public Information Session on San Onofre Plant

Southern California Edison officials will tell the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the public Tuesday about the utility's proposal to restart a reactor at the troubled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station near Camp Pendleton.

The commission's meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the Capo Beach Church in San Juan Capistrano. The church seats 1,100.

Rosemead-based Edison has plan on how to restart Unit 2, which was shut down for scheduled maintenance in January 2012 when a small leak was discovered in a steam pressure tube in the other reactor, Unit 3. The commission is responsible for reviewing the plans.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., earlier this month sent a letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane expressing concerns about information in a 2012 document from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which manufactured the generators.

The two lawmakers alleged the document showed Edison, the operator and majority owner of the plant south of San Clemente, knew of "serious problems" with the design of the steam generators before they were installed in 2009 and 2010.

Edison officials responded they have cooperated with the commission and "has provided voluminous records, data, information and other accurate reports as requested." The company said it respects the commission process and is "committed to a transparent review" of its San Onofre operations.

Friends of the Earth, an anti-nuclear group opposing a restart at San Onofre, is demanding that Southern California Edison go through a rigorous amendment process to its operating license before a restart because the new generators were of a much different design than their predecessors.

Investigators determined that the leak was the result of vibrations that caused the tubes to wear faster than expected. Degradation was discovered in tubes in both reactors.

Members of the public who attend Tuesday's meeting will have the chance to submit comments and question staff and Edison executives.

The meeting also will be streamed online at video.nrc.gov.

—City News Service