CEP Regular Meeting: Understanding Funds Related to SONGS Decommissioning

Kristal Jabara, Director of Community Relations for San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, spoke on behalf of Mr. Desmond and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, both of whom serve as SFS coalition co-chairs. Ms. Jabara discussed a new bill by Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA) and August Pfluger (R-TX) that would amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to create a more durable federal spent fuel management program. She also previewed a Nov. 21 webinar, to be co-hosted by the coalition and the SONGS Community Engagement Panel, at which Rep. Levin will discuss the bill.

SCE staff provided updates on safety and the status of demolition work, which is on track for completion by year-end 2028. The panel received a recap of various initiatives taken by SCE in response to community input, such as a radiation monitoring system for the independent spent fuel storage installation that streams data in real time to offsite agencies including the California Department of Public Health which produces monthly reports. SCE staff also provided updates on other topics of interest, including successful delivery of large components called “pressurizers” to a disposal facility in Utah, and the latest demolition work. Finally, those who participated in the CEP meeting received an update on SCE’s work to monitor a spot on the western edge of the plant site near Unit 2 where tritium has been detected in groundwater. Importantly, groundwater at and around SONGS is not a source of drinking water and the levels of tritium are below the EPA regulatory limit for drinking water. SCE has retained a third-party hydrogeologist to support an assessment and recommend next steps. Additional wells have been installed and are being tested.

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To submit questions/comments during a CEP meeting, use the CEP Comment Form link (if attending virtually) or use the hardcopy CEP Question/Comment Cards (if attending in-person) available at the registration table near the facility entrance.