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Earthquake prone Diablo a test case for risky nuclear license extension

Diablo is drawing particular scrutiny because of its location in one of the country’s most seismically active areas and its long, troubled history of trying to deal with the risk of a major quake.

Nuclear Crisis Fuels Duel at Diablo, WSJ.com, 8 April 11, By BEN CASSELMAN In Earthquake-Prone California, License Extension Sought for Reactors Poses Major Test for Nation’s Atomic-Power Industry  Japan’s unfolding reactor crisis is fueling a battle over nuclear power across the Pacific, in earthquake-prone California.

Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the big California utility, is seeking a 20-year license extension for its two reactors at Diablo Canyon, a nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo, on the state’s central coast.

That application, controversial even before an earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant last month, is now shaping up as a major test of Americans’ tolerance of nuclear power, especially in areas at high risk for natural disasters.

Local politicians are lining up to fight the license extension, arguing that the process should be put on hold while PG&E studies the area’s earthquake risk.

“The tragedy in Japan underscores the importance and critical evidence of the need for a pause in relicensing,” said Rep. Lois Capps (D., Calif.), who last month asked regulators to delay renewing Diablo’s license.

National anti-nuclear groups, too, are making the Diablo case a focal point of their broader fight against nuclear power. “Diablo Canyon is just a striking and scary example of playing with some seriously explosive fire,” said Sean Garren of the activist group Environment America…….

Diablo isn’t the only plant in the spotlight. Across the country, 19 reactors are undergoing the license-renewal process, and regulators expect at least 17 more applications by 2017.

Many of those applications will be controversial, especially after the Fukushima crisis raised new questions about the safety of aging reactors.

But Diablo is drawing particular scrutiny because of its location in one of the country’s most seismically active areas and its long, troubled history of trying to deal with the risk of a major quake…

Japan Crisis Fuels Duel at Diablo – WSJ.com

April 9, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA