HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-10; City Council; ; Safe handling and storage of nuclear waste generated at the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station@ CITY COUNCIL .
Staff Report
Meeting Date: September 10, 2019
Mayor and City Council To:
From:
Staff Contact:
Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Jason Haber, Assistant to the City Manager
Jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov or 760-434-2958
CA Review v-> c.,,
Subject: Safe handling and storage of nuclear waste generated at the
decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
Recommended Action
Consider adoption of a resolution requesting the California State Legislature and Governor
address concerns regarding the safe handling and storage of nuclear waste generated at the
decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).
Executive Summary
This report presents for City Council consideration, a resolution requesting the California State
Legislature and Governor address concerns regarding the safe handling and storage of nuclear
waste generated at the decommissioned SONGS, as directed by the City Council at the April 16,
2019, City Council meeting.
Discussion
During Public Comment at the April 16, 2019, meeting of the City Council a representative of
the nonprofit Samuel Lawrence Foundation requested consideration of the Foundation's
proposed resolution concerning the safe handling and storage of nuclear waste at SONGS. Staff
worked with representatives of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation to prepare the resolution
presented for City Council consideration (Exhibit 1).
Southern California Edison (SCE) is the majority owner and decommissioning agent of SONGS.
SCE permanently ceased power generation operations at SONGS on June 7, 2013. Their
subsequent filing of a Certification of Permanent Cessation of Power Operations with the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) set the stage to begin preparations for decommissioning.
Decommissioning is a well-defined NRC process that involves transferring the used fuel into
safe storage, followed by the removal and disposal of radioactive components and materials.
Longer term, this process calls for reducing residual radioactivity to a level that supports
termination of the NRC license.
Sept. 10, 2019 Item #5 Page 1 of 6
SONGS stores used uranium fuel on site using a combination of technologies: enclosed, steel-
lined pools (spent fuel pools) and sea led stainless steel canisters that are housed in reinforced
concrete structures (dry cask storage).
Now that SONGS is permanently retired, SCE is taking steps to transfer all of the used nuclear
fuel into dry cask storage. This technology involves sealing used fuel in airtight steel (or in steel
and concrete) containers or casks that provide both structural strength and shielding. Dry cask
storage systems are designed to withstand various natural phenomena such as floods,
tornados, seismic events, temperature extremes and lightning.
Thirty-one canisters are currently entombed in the onsite storage vault and an additional 42 are
awaiting transfer. The fuel will remain on site until the federal government puts in place a
program to dispose of these materials.
By law, the U.S. Department of Energy is responsible for developing a disposal facility for the
long-term management of used uranium fuel from SONGS and other U.S. nuclear power plants.
However, the federal government does not currently have a viable plan to establish a
permanent national repository for used nuclear fuel.
Staff has been in contact with a SCE representative to discuss the proposed resolution, the
SONGS decommissioning process, onsite storage of spent nuclear fuels, and ongoing legislative
efforts to find interim and long-term offsite storage solutions.
The proposed resolution calls for canister loading to be stopped and not commence until there
is a loading and transfer system in place that meets a variety of spe~ific safety requirements.
The resolution supports the onsite storage of nuclear waste in reinforced buildings and that
stored nuclear waste should be moved further inland and to higher ground. The resolution
supports Congressional efforts to site and open a consent-based, permanent national
repository for the disposal of the nation's nuclear waste and requests that the Legislature and
the Governor of the State of California enact appropriate legislation that would address the
concerns set forth in the resolution.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
Next Steps
Should the City Council adopt the resolution, such resolution will be signed by the Mayor and
distributed to the Speaker of the Assembly, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the
Governor of the State of California.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a "project"
within the meaning of CEQA in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change
Sept. 10, 2019 Item #5 Page 2 of 6
in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment,
and therefore does not require environmental review.
Public Notification
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public
viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1. City Council Resolution
Sept. 10, 2019 Item #5 Page 3 of 6
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-166
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THE CALIFORNIA STATE LEGISLATURE AND
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR ADDRESS CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFE
HANDLING AND STORAGE OF NUCLEAR WASTE GENERATED AT THE
DECOMMISSIONED SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION
Exhibit 1
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad is located within a SO-mile radius of the shuttered San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station; and
WHEREAS, residents of the City of Carlsbad are among the 8.5 million people living within a
SO-mile emergency planning zone as defined by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); and
WHEREAS, at San Onofre, in total, 3.6 million pounds of high-level radioactive waste is being
transferred into on-site storage located within a few hundred feet of the ocean; and
WHEREAS, the storage period is indefinite; and
WHEREAS, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is investigating utility safety procedures
and license compliance following a "near-miss" drop incident that occurred in August 2018 in which a
fully loaded, 54-ton spent fuel storage canister came within a quarter-inch of falling 18 feet into a
below grade storage vault; and
WHEREAS, 31 canisters are currently entombed in the storage vault and an additional 42 are
awaiting transfer; and
WHEREAS, when loaded into on-site storage, thin-walled waste canisters are subject to
gouging, potentially leading to corrosion, cracking and the possible release of radiation into the
environment; and
WHEREAS, the storage facility is vulnerable to damage from seismic activity, landslides,
tsunamis and sea-level rise, which could submerge and potentially inundate the vault with corrosive
sea water; and
WHEREAS, a breach of San Onofre's nuclear storage facilities could disable the busiest
transportation corridor on the West Coast, destroy real estate, cripple military readiness at Marine
Sept. 10, 2019 Item #5 Page 4 of 6
Corps Base Camp Pendleton and prompt damages which, according to economic modeling, could
exceed $13.4 trillion over 50 years; and
WHEREAS, radiation exposure poses potentially lethal health effects to life on Earth.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Council supports the following:
a. That canister loading should be stopped and not commence until there is a loading
and transfer system in place that meets the safety requirements listed below:
i. That the utility regularly inspect and monitor canisters and replace any that
show evidence of material failure or radiation leaks;
ii. That independent, real-time radiation monitoring data of San Onofre's
nuclear waste canisters and containment systems be made available on line
to the public;
iii. That the utility develop procedures for on-site canister repair and
repackaging of spent nuclear fuel in the event of material failure or
malfeasance; and
iv. That a formal, independent audit of Southern California Edison's
decommissioning fund, procedures and nuclear waste storage program be
conducted.
b. That on-site containment be ensured via storing nuclear waste in reinforced
buildings, providing additional environmental and security protection.
c. That stored nuclear waste be moved further inland and to higher ground away
from coastal and flood risks.
d. Congressional efforts to site and open a consent-based, permanent national
repository for the disposal of the nation's nuclear waste.
3. That the City Council requests that the Legislature and the Governor of the State of
California enact appropriate legislation that would address the concerns set forth in
this resolution.
Sept. 10, 2019 Item #5 Page 5 of 6
4. That the City Council requests that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the
Speaker of the Assembly, the President Pro Tempo re ofthe Senate and the Governor
of the State of California.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 10th day of September 2019, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
Hall, Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Schumacher, Hamilton.
None.
None.
MATT HALL, Mayor
liurrwJ!1tkTM~
t~ARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk
(SEAL)
Sept. 10, 2019 Item #5 Page 6 of 6