nuclear-news

But in about six years, the twin domes will be gone — obliterated — provided the schedule holds true for dismantling the now-shuttered plant, known as SONGS.

Taking down the domes is part of a much larger project that will remove all but just a few structures at the plant, which produced electricity from 1968 to late 2012 and is being decommissioned by the federal government’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Southern California Edison operates the facility but the massive job of taking the plant apart — and removing the heavy equipment inside it — is being done by a general contractor named SONGS Decommissioning Solutions. The group is a joint venture of the Los Angeles-based infrastructure and engineering company AECOM and Energy Solutions, a Salt Lake City firm that specializes in disposing of nuclear material. ………..

The costs for dismantling SONGS will come from about $4.5 billion in existing decommissioning trust funds. The money has been collected from ratepayers and invested in dedicated trusts. According to Edison, customers have contributed about one-third of the trust funds while the remaining two-thirds have come from returns on investments made by the company……..

What will be left at SONGS?

When the eight-year dismantlement project is completed, all that will remain will be the two dry storage sites; a security building with personnel to look over the waste; a seawall 28 feet high, as measured at average low tide at San Onofre Beach; a walkway connecting two beaches north and south of the plant, and a switchyard with power lines…….

The canisters of nuclear waste remain between I-5 and the Pacific because the federal government has not found a place to put all the used-up commercial fuel that has stacked up at some 121 sites in 35 states.

There are some 80,000 metric tons of waste from commercial nuclear plants across the country. SONGS accounts for 1,609 metric tons, or about 3.55 million pounds. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-10-23/twin-domes-at-san-onofre-nuclear-plant-expected-to-come-down-in-2026