nuclear-news

San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant – shut since Jan 2012, and now – indefinitely!

Feds again delay San Onofre nuclear plant restart decision   89.3 KPCC, AP | May 20th, 2013, Federal regulators have indefinitely delayed a decision on the proposed restart of the offline San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California, raising new questions Monday about whether the twin reactors will produce electricity again.

The plant, on the seaside border of San Diego and Orange counties, has been dark since January 2012, after a small radiation leak led to the discovery of unusual damage to hundreds of tubes that carry radioactive water.

Operator Southern California Edison wants permission to restart the Unit 2 reactor and run it at reduced power in hopes of stopping vibration and friction that was blamed for damaging tubing.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission delayed several earlier target dates for a ruling, with officials recently projecting a June announcement. But its website on Monday listed no date for a restart decision – only “to be determined.”

Agency spokesman Victor Dricks had no comment.  Last week, the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board sided with environmentalists who have called for lengthy hearings on the restart plan after concluding that firing up the plant would allow Edison “to operate beyond the scope of its existing license.”…. http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/05/20/37332/feds-again-delay-san-onofre-nuclear-plant-restart/

May 21, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general