<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.sbsun.com/2024/03/31/concerns-about-san-onofre-are-real-but-experts-debate-level-of-risk/">https://www.sbsun.com/2024/03/31/concerns-about-san-onofre-are-real-but-experts-debate-level-of-risk/</a><br>
<br>
<header class="entry-header article-header"
style="margin: 2em 0em -2.25em; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px 0px 3px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; box-sizing: inherit; flex-wrap: wrap; float: none; -webkit-box-pack: justify; justify-content: space-between; position: relative; width: 1280.01px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div class="header-title-area"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; z-index: 1;">
<div class="headline-area"
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; width: 1280.01px;">
<div class="headlines"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<h1 class="entry-title"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.266667em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 700 2.25rem / 1.15 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline-block; letter-spacing: -0.03em; width: 1280.01px; clear: both;"><span
class="dfm-title metered"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Concerns
about San Onofre are real, but experts debate level of
risk</span></h1>
<h2 class="subheadline"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 500 1.4375em / 1.3 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(31, 30, 30); letter-spacing: -0.023em;">Column:
Dueling experts share their greatest worries about the
nuclear waste</h2>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</header>
<div class="article-content"
style="margin: 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: flex; -webkit-box-pack: justify; justify-content: space-between; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(250, 250, 250); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">
<div class="article-content-wrapper"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; width: calc(75% - 0.32rem);">
<div class="header-features default"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 3em 0em 2em; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; width: 954.882px;">
<figure
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="image-wrapper"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; overflow: visible; position: relative; width: 954.882px;"><img
alt="Dry storage of used fuel rods at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
"
title="Dry storage of used fuel rods at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
" class="size-article_feature lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=526"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=526 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=662 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=865 1020w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=1083 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=1573 1860w"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SFORZA-WASTE-0921-03.jpeg?w=526"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; left: 0px; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 954.882px;"></div>
<figcaption
style="margin: 0px 0px 1.0625em; padding: 1.07143em 0em 0.714286em; border-width: 0px 0px 3px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 0.8125em; line-height: 1.3; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; position: relative; color: rgb(93, 91, 90);">Dry
storage of used fuel rods at the San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Station on Thursday, December 16, 2021. (Photo
by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)</figcaption></figure>
<div class="meta"
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px 0px 1em; border-width: 0px 0px 3px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; float: none; width: 954.882px; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; -webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center;"><img
alt="Author"
src="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2104b5ded27b161e08aa385f507f36db?s=85&d=mm&r=g"
class="avatar avatar-85 photo coauthor-avatar"
style="margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 56px; max-width: 100%; width: 56px; border-radius: 50%; align-self: baseline; object-fit: cover;"
width="85" height="85">
<div class="coauthor-avatar-container"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="byline"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 400 0.9375em / 1.71429 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">By<span> </span><a
href="https://www.sbsun.com/author/teri-sforza/"
title="Posts by Teri Sforza" class=" author-name"
rel="author"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.7; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;">TERI
SFORZA</a><span> </span>|<span> </span><a
href="mailto:tsforza@scng.com"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: inherit; text-decoration: none;"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">tsforza@scng.com</a><span> </span>|
Orange County Register</div>
<div class="time"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 400 0.8125rem / 1.42857 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">PUBLISHED:<span> </span><time
datetime="2024-03-31 07:00:24"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">March
31, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.</time><span> </span>| UPDATED:<span> </span><time
class="updated" datetime="2024-03-31 07:00:58"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">March
31, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.</time></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="article-body"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0px calc(12.5% + 0.15rem); padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; width: calc(75% - 0.32rem);">
<div class="body-copy"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 400 1.03125em / 1.63636 "Source Serif Pro", Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.01em;">
<div class="wp-remixd-voice-wrapper"
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="remixd-audio-player"
style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; width: 711.038px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"></div>
</div>
<figure id="attachment_4239537"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is seen from Trail 1 at San Onofre State Beach south of San Clemente on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239537"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-0807-01.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="4000"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 711.038px;">San
Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in 2019. (File Photo
by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Let’s
all agree that storing 3.6 million pounds of highly
radioactive nuclear waste on a bluff beside the ocean in
an earthquake zone near 8 million people is, at the risk
of gross understatement, not ideal.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Let’s
all agree that it should leave San Onofre and be safely
ensconced in a federal graveyard as soon as humanly
possible (if not sooner).</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">And
let’s attempt to separate fact from fancy as we wait, and
wait, and wait for that to happen — teasing what might be
worth worrying about from, say, more performative panic.
To that end, we’ll curate a debate between two nuclear
experts who have very different ideas on what we should
fret over when it comes to the spent fuel in dry storage
at San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station.</p>
<figure id="attachment_4239538"
class="wp-caption alignnone size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water.png"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="The highest predicted ground water levels near San Onofre's dry storage systems would still be below the floor of the waste storage system, Edison says (Source: Southern California Edison)"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239538"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/san-o-ground-water-1.png?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="975"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 711.038px;">The
highest predicted ground water levels near San Onofre’s
dry storage systems would still be below the floor of
the waste storage system, Edison says (Source: Southern
California Edison)</figcaption></figure>
<h4
style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2rem 0rem 1.25rem; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 600 1.1875rem / 1.2 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;"></h4>
<figure id="attachment_4239539"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="Dave Lochbaum" data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239539"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517254521335.jpeg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="321"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 320.991px;">Dave
Lochbaum</figcaption></figure>
<h4
style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2rem 0rem 1.25rem; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 600 1.1875rem / 1.2 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Meet
the experts!</h4>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">On
one side we have David Lochbaum, recently retired director
of the Nuclear Safety Project for the nonprofit Union of
Concerned Scientists. Lochbaum has a degree in nuclear
engineering and worked in the industry before becoming one
of its leading watchdog/critics.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">On
the other side, we have Paul Blanch, nuclear industry
whistleblower, consultant and expert witness on regulatory
matters. Blanch’s degree is in electrical engineering, and
he worked in the nuclear industry as well.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">What
do they worry about? Very different things</p>
<div class="dfp-ad dfp-outstream_video"
id="div-gpt-ad-outstream_video"
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; width: 711.038px; overflow: auto; visibility: visible;">
<div class="htlad-outstream_video"
data-unit="sbsun.com/news/outstream_video"
data-targeting=""
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="htl-ad" id="htlad-4"
data-unit="sbsun.com/news/outstream_video"
name="htlunit-outstream_video" data-eager=""
data-sizes="0x0:300x250|501x0:480x360|750x0:480x360|1000x0:480x360"
data-prebid="0x0:|501x0:|750x0:|1000x0:"
data-targeting="{"pos":["Outstream_Video"]}"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="htl-ad-gpt htl-size-480x360"
id="htlad-4-gpt"
data-google-query-id="CMj6-tutoYUDFRQjRAgd9U4JQw"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div
id="google_ads_iframe_/8013/sbsun.com/news/outstream_video_0__container__"
style="margin: auto; padding: 0px; border: 0pt none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; text-align: center;"><svg
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 32 22"><path
d="M26,22H0V0H31.93L32,16A6,6,0,0,1,26,22Z"
style="fill:#ffc800;fill-rule:evenodd"></path></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path
d="M9 21H3V3h6v18zm12 0h-6V3h6v18z"
fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path
d="M11 2L8.25 4.25 11 7zM0 7v9h5l6 5v-6.5L3.85 7zm17 4.5c0-1.965-1.2-3.735-3-4.5v3l2.8 2.8a3.73 3.73 0 0 0 .2-1.3zm3.4 7.45l-1.85-1.85-2.65-2.6-1.9-1.95-3-3-4.15-4.1-4.95-5L1.45 0 0 1.45 17.15 18.6 19 20.4l3.55 3.6L24 22.55zM14 23a11.83 11.83 0 0 0 3.65-1.55l-1.25-1.3c-.747.498-1.553.902-2.4 1.2V23zm9-11.5A11.77 11.77 0 0 0 14 0v1.6A10.53 10.53 0 0 1 20 16l1.45 1.45A11.99 11.99 0 0 0 23 11.5z"></path></svg><input
type="range" role="slider"
class="cnx-progress-range" aria-label="Seek"
aria-valuemin="0" aria-valuemax="30"
aria-valuenow="25"
aria-valuetext="24 seconds of 29 seconds"
style="all: inherit;">
<div
class="cnx-ad-container cnx-full-height cnx-mod-invisible"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; opacity: 1; visibility: hidden !important; height: 471.958px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; pointer-events: all; overflow: hidden; z-index: 20; display: block;"></div>
<div
class="cnx-ad-container cnx-full-height cnx-ad-video-size-slot"
style="margin: auto; padding: 0px 0px 399.953px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto !important; left: 0px; position: relative; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; pointer-events: all; opacity: 1; overflow: hidden; z-index: 20; display: block; bottom: 0px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-bid-slot" aria-hidden="true"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background: rgb(244, 244, 244); grid-area: adslot; opacity: 0;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background-color: transparent !important;">
<div
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent !important; position: absolute;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="cnx-ad-bid-slot" aria-hidden="true"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background: rgb(244, 244, 244); grid-area: adslot; opacity: 0;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background-color: transparent !important;">
<div
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent !important; position: absolute;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="cnx-ad-bid-slot" aria-hidden="true"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background: rgb(244, 244, 244); grid-area: adslot; opacity: 0;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background-color: transparent !important;">
<div
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent !important; position: absolute; width: 711px; height: 400px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="cnx-ad-bid-slot cnx-ad-bid-slot-id-3eecb756-8c60-44d4-8090-04b3d639ecab"
aria-hidden="true"
id="cnx_bid_slot_144429e9-fd58-472a-8383-77d325403202"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background: rgb(244, 244, 244); grid-area: adslot; opacity: 0;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
id="cnx-ad-slot-d0cd95b5-7d13-4368-aeea-8b7a85461d1a"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background-color: transparent !important;">
<div
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent !important; position: absolute; width: 711px; height: 400px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="cnx-ad-bid-slot cnx-ad-bid-slot-id-ea4cc1da-586b-48b9-8303-a451240a8488"
aria-hidden="true"
id="cnx_bid_slot_ab471616-0c87-407b-9e71-bebaa7202c81"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background: rgb(244, 244, 244); grid-area: adslot; opacity: 0;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
id="cnx-ad-slot-02497fb3-f159-44dd-bab8-b070f3fac834"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background-color: transparent !important;"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div
class="cnx-ad-bid-slot cnx-ad-bid-slot-id-5a9d4554-63b5-4ce2-a1ea-508c199e454e cnx-ad-bid-slot-selected"
aria-hidden="false"
id="cnx_bid_slot_c82f4c47-a450-459a-b323-934f7833b8cd"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background: rgb(244, 244, 244); grid-area: adslot; opacity: 1; z-index: 10;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;">
<div class="cnx-ad-slot"
id="cnx-ad-slot-b1e9687f-3ee1-41bc-af20-cb5eed3f9ca4"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px; background-color: transparent !important;"></div>
<a href="https://southbay.bestinvoting.com/"
target="_blank" class="cnx-ad-slot"
title="Advertisement link" role="link"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: unset; text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; align-items: center; display: flex; justify-content: center; height: 399.953px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 711.038px;"></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<svg
class="cnx-color-icon cnx-click-to-play-btn-icon cnx-color-accent"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"><polygon
points="5 1 5 23 23 11.9165764"></polygon></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
viewBox="0 0 22 22"><path
d="M11 7c1.1 0 2-.9 2-2s-.9-2-2-2-2 .9-2 2 .9 2 2 2zm0 2c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2 2-.9 2-2-.9-2-2-2zm0 6c-1.1 0-2 .9-2 2s.9 2 2 2 2-.9 2-2-.9-2-2-2z"></path></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path
d="M18 21h3V3h-3v18zM3 21l14-9L3 3v18z"
fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"></svg><svg
class="cnx-color-icon"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path
d="M11 2L8.25 4.25 11 7zM0 7v9h5l6 5v-6.5L3.85 7zm17 4.5c0-1.965-1.2-3.735-3-4.5v3l2.8 2.8a3.73 3.73 0 0 0 .2-1.3zm3.4 7.45l-1.85-1.85-2.65-2.6-1.9-1.95-3-3-4.15-4.1-4.95-5L1.45 0 0 1.45 17.15 18.6 19 20.4l3.55 3.6L24 22.55zM14 23a11.83 11.83 0 0 0 3.65-1.55l-1.25-1.3c-.747.498-1.553.902-2.4 1.2V23zm9-11.5A11.77 11.77 0 0 0 14 0v1.6A10.53 10.53 0 0 1 20 16l1.45 1.45A11.99 11.99 0 0 0 23 11.5z"></path></svg><svg
viewBox="0 0 25 25"
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
fill-rule="evenodd"></svg><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/db64a43c-ec65-413b-b360-ff6d53c360b6.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Fix your fixer-upper pre-sale, this company says, and quit leaving money on the table"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/8b690baf-ae2c-4aa1-a930-5ae93e47dbfd.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Southern Californa home prices, sales revive amid renewed bidding wars"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/012c691c-84f1-4209-9abb-5fe87d61842b.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="‘Unregulated AI’ is a myth"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/1cd442fd-1073-4999-853a-103f4ca77e58.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="SoCal Sound 88.5 adds Matt Pinfield as afternoon DJ Andy Chanley leaves town"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/ca71ee6d-5b2e-4802-b47b-a72bd8217925.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Something good came from 1899 Inland Empire earthquakes"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/087b980e-99f9-4d54-a057-c006b2015a2f.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Is ‘uberveillance’ coming for us all?"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/df963908-a371-4e76-bdf9-8c5e432003e7.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Woman and 2 children killed in head-on crash on 15 Freeway in rainy San Bernardino County desert"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/34cbdd76-0556-4554-9ae5-b36e0c208d96.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="The Constitution’s unequal protection of voters across America"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/e76d79bd-68fc-4770-a30f-a8f957e76cef.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Ducks allow Dakota Joshua to score twice in loss to Canucks"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"><img
src="https://img.connatix.com/pid-0d31fbc7-f6d2-46db-85e9-3d3d4d36b989/59dd997d-0626-41ae-85ff-35a623a7df58/ffbe5ac0-c843-4dea-8801-3dbe6ce68863.jpg?crop=711:400,smart&width=711&height=400&quality=60&fit=crop"
alt="Riverside County crews rescue horse that was stuck in the Santa Ana River"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 399.953px; max-width: 100%; width: 711.038px; -webkit-user-drag: none; user-select: none; object-fit: unset;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<figure id="attachment_4239540"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="Paul Blanch" data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239540"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1517671040389.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="400"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 400px;">Paul
Blanch</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Let’s
start with Blanch. “The bottom line is that there is a
probability of flooding of the canisters in our present
location. Should this occur, the impact on Southern
California would be unimaginable.”</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Blanch’s
nightmare scenario plays out like this: A giant tidal wave
inundates the “concrete monolith” that is San Onofre’s
Holtec dry storage system. Most of the waste is inside
canisters, inside vaults, inside that concrete monolith,
just a few hundred feet from the ocean.</p>
<div class="dfp-ad dfp-cube_article"
id="div-gpt-ad-cube_article"
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; width: 711.038px; overflow: auto; visibility: visible;">
<div class="htlad-cube_article"
data-unit="sbsun.com/news/cube_article"
data-targeting=""
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="htl-ad" id="htlad-5"
data-unit="sbsun.com/news/cube_article"
name="htlunit-cube_article" data-lazy-pixels="350"
data-sizes="0x0:300x250|750x0:300x250|1000x0:300x250"
data-prebid="0x0:cube_article-Mobile|750x0:cube_article-Tablet|1000x0:cube_article-Desktop"
data-refresh="viewable" data-refresh-secs="30"
data-refresh-max="100"
data-targeting="{"pos":["Cube_Article"]}"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div class="htl-ad-gpt htl-size-300x250"
id="htlad-5-gpt"
data-google-query-id="CMDF4-2toYUDFZI-RAgdlDYJkw"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">
<div
id="google_ads_iframe_/8013/sbsun.com/news/cube_article_0__container__"
style="margin: auto; padding: 0px; border: 0pt none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; text-align: center; width: 300px; height: 250px;"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">In
this nightmare scenario, salt water and debris fill the
vaults. The canisters inside are cool, as far as nuclear
waste goes, at several hundred degrees. They’re kept cool
by airflow — a passive system that sucks in cool air and
releases hot air, not needing any electricity to get the
job done. But what would happen if the vaults were
submerged in water?</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Well,
water was fine when the waste was cooling in spent fuel
pools (it cools in those pools for years after its tour of
duty in the reactor core is done). So why fear water now?
The presence of boron in cooling pool water, and the
precise spacing between fuel assemblies, kept things under
control, Blanch argues. Salt water would not have boron.
Waste might not be spaced well enough to prevent
“criticality.” After water boiled away, salt and debris
could remain inside the vaults, potentially blocking
cooling airflow to the hot canisters. Big trouble, he
said.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">And
some of the waste canisters suffered scratches on their
way into the vaults. If a scratched canister came into
contact with cool water, would it crack like a 400-degree
Pyrex bowl suddenly submerged in ice?</p>
<figure id="attachment_4239541"
class="wp-caption alignright"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="Image courtesy Holtec" data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239541"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/holtec-hi-storm-umax-from-sce1.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="433" height="275"></a><figcaption
class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 432.995px;">Image
courtesy Holtec</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Edison
and the NRC say this is just not a credible threat
scenario. The area is prone to tsunamis in the 6-foot
range, not the 30-foot range that could reach and flood
the dry storage area. And if monster waves came anyway,
the water would cool the canisters, then recede.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">The
seawall, which is not required, provides some protection
from a tsunami — but it’s redundant, as the older storage
system (NUHOMS) is designed to withstand complete
submergence up to 50 feet, and the new Holtec HI-STORM
UMAX is designed to withstand complete submergence up to
125 feet, Edison spokesman Jeff Monford said.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Not
credible.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“What
do you mean by ‘credible’?” Blanch asked. “They won’t
define it. I’ll agree that getting hit by a meteorite is
not credible because the probability is so low. But what
is the probability here? One in a thousand years, one in a
million years? What we’re really looking for is the
analysis that shows, should these become flooded, what are
the consequences? I cannot get an answer.”</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">A
hydrology analysis was done in the 1970s by Basil Wilson,
when the two newest reactors were planned — below sea
level. San Onofre has had many serious issues over the
years — culminating in its shutdown — but serious flooding
has not been among them. Wilson’s hydrology analysis has
been updated over the years, and potential flooding has
been considered by the California Coastal Commission, the
California Lands Commission, etc., and Edison must do<span> </span><a
href="https://www.ocregister.com/2024/03/09/king-tides-groundwater-rise-threats-to-nuclear-waste-at-san-onofre/"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 1px dotted var(--primary); border-left: 0px; border-image: initial; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none;">state-mandated
studies of sea level rise near the plant regularly.</a></p>
<figure id="attachment_4239542"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline_half"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right; width: 355.519px;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/OCR-L-SAND-EROSION-XXXX-50-05.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SAND-EROSION-XXXX-50-05.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="Big waves pound the concrete wall below San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, where 3.6 million gallons of nuclear waste is kept. Rock rip rap were put in front of a sea wall with hopes it will help keep the sea from damaging the facility. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SAND-EROSION-XXXX-50-05.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SAND-EROSION-XXXX-50-05.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SAND-EROSION-XXXX-50-05.jpg?fit=310%2C9999px&ssl=1 310w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="4000"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 355.519px;">Big
waves pound the concrete wall below San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Station, where 3.6 million gallons of nuclear
waste is kept. Rock rip rap were put in front of a sea
wall with hopes it will help keep the sea from damaging
the facility.(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County
Register/SCNG)</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Blanch
argues that’s not enough. He says updates are based on
Wilson’s very old study and fresh investigation should be
done.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“A
major accident is acceptable in the nuclear field if it’s
one in 10 million in one year. That’s what we’re looking
for. That’s more than safe. One in a million would
probably be safe to me. But someone needs to say it. I
don’t know what the probability is. They have not done
it.”</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">He’s
not saying flooding<span> </span><em
style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">is</em><span> </span>a
problem. But he wants to see an analysis showing it<span> </span><em
style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">isn’t</em><span> </span>a
problem, he said.</p>
<h4
style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2rem 0rem 1.25rem; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 600 1.1875rem / 1.2 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Other
worries</h4>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Lochbaum,
meanwhile, probably couldn’t disagree more.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“I
have zero concerns about the spent fuel in dry storage at
San Onofre being vulnerable to flooding from tsunamis,” he
said. “Forget Dr. Wilson’s studies from the 1970s — SCE
has commissioned more recent assessments that show the
threat to be negligible. Zero concerns. At most.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“I
do have concerns about dry storage of spent fuel, at San
Onofre and elsewhere. But none are tsunami-related. None.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_4239543"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="This Google Earth image shows how close the expanded dry storage area for spent nuclear waste will be to the shoreline at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. (Image courtesy of Google Earth)"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239543"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANO-LEVIN-0625-01-1.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="4000"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 711.038px;">This
Google Earth image shows how close the dry storage area
for spent nuclear waste is to the water at San Onofre
Nuclear Generating Station. (Image courtesy of Google
Earth)</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Instead,
Lochbaum’s concerns center on the dry storage systems
themselves and what will happen to them over time.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Casks
containing the waste are vulnerable to wear and tear and
degradation as they age. Once ensconced in steel and
concrete and locked away, it can be hard to assess how
time is treating them.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“NRC
requires — or ‘suggests,’ more accurately — and a very few
casks get inspected every now and then,” Lochbaum said.
“Not a safety spotlight, more like a very infrequent
safety strobe light flashing, perhaps, once in awhile.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“Fortunately,
a dry cask experiencing a through-wall crack isn’t like a
balloon popping — all the contents won’t be swiftly
released,” he said. “But the safety margins protecting the
public will be reduced. That’s bad.”</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Last
September, Blanch, Lochbaum, Edison and others met to
discuss such concerns. Lochbaum asked Edison if cask
inspections would be required before shipping them off to
federal storage somewhere (“in the off-chance that this
day ever arrives,” he quipped).</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Alas.
Pre-shipment inspections are not required by the NRC. But
Edison said it would inspect them anyway, because it’s a
responsible actor.</p>
<figure id="attachment_4239544"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/loading.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="Loading spent fuel into the Holtec dry storage system at sunset. (Courtesy Southern California Edison)"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239544"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/loading.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="2823"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 711.038px;">Loading
spent fuel into the Holtec dry storage system at sunset.
(File photo courtesy Southern California Edison)</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“I
have zero reason or evidence to doubt SCE’s sincerity,”
Lochbaum said, “but I’d take more comfort in pre-shipment
inspections being required by law rather than voluntary.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">“If
mandatory, and assuming San Onofre was not the first site
to ship casks away, there’d be a database of inspections
to show whether casks are, or are not, solid.”</p>
<h4
style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 2rem 0rem 1.25rem; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: 600 1.1875rem / 1.2 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Edison</h4>
<figure id="attachment_4239545"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="Ron Pontes, Manager of Decommissioning Environmental Strategy with Southern California Edison talks about the Areva NUHOMS above-ground storage system at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Clemente, CA on Monday, March 18, 2019. The facility is in the process of decommissioning. The above-ground storage houses 51 canisters, 50 of which hold 24 spent nuclear fuel assemblies each. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)"
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239545"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&ssl=1 780w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&ssl=1 810w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&ssl=1 1280w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/OCR-L-SANONOFRE-0319-PB-07.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&ssl=1 1860w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="4542"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 711.038px;">Ron
Pontes of Southern California Edison at the NUHOMS
above-ground storage system at the San Onofre Nuclear
Generating Station in 2019. (Photo by Paul Bersebach,
Orange County Register/SCNG)</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">San
Onofre has two dry storage systems on that bluff over the
blue Pacific.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">The
older one — the Orano TN-NUHOMS system that stores
canisters horizontally — holds 50 canisters and is at that
20-year mark. In November 2021, Edison and Orano conducted
a “baseline inspection,” finding no signs of degradation
of inspected canisters, Edison said.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">The
other system is Holtec’s UMAX —the aforementioned
“concrete monolith” — which stores canisters vertically.
There are 73 waste canisters inside, the last of which
were loaded in 2020.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Dry
fuel storage systems are initially licensed for 20 years
by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. After that, an
“aging management program” is required to evaluate
“degradation mechanisms to determine if they could affect
the ability of dry storage system components to fulfill
their safety functions,” Edison explains. If all is well,
the licenses can be renewed for 40-year intervals.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">So
while it won’t need an aging management program for the
Holtec for years, Edison agreed to an “accelerated
Inspection and Maintenance Program” nonetheless, including
periodic canister inspections; a test canister program;
radiation monitoring and reporting; and developing a way
to inspect and repair canisters inside their vaults inside
the concrete monolith.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">In
2020, Edison sent repair robots — sort of like high-tech
St. Bernards — into a test vault to find and fix a
test-damaged canister. One robot carried inspection
cameras. The other, a nozzle mounted on a movable arm.
Using magnetic wheels to crawl around, the robots found
the trouble spots and applied a metallic overlay of
nickel, effectively sealing them.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">When
the time comes to move them to federal storage, each
canister will be shipped inside a very heavy, shielded,
sealed and helium leak-tested cask, adding another layer
of containment, Monford said. Edison’s license does
require that most, if not all, the canisters be inspected
and/or tested prior to shipment.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Blanch
doesn’t worry about flooding of the horizontal canister
system — water can just drain out the bottom, he said —
but he does worry about the vertical Holtec. “I don’t
think, in the short term, we’re going to have any problems
with spent fuel canisters, for the next 50 years or so,”
he said. “But we’re going to start developing problems.”</p>
<figure id="attachment_4239546"
class="wp-caption alignright size-article_inline_half"
style="margin: 0px calc(-18.75% + 20px) 1em 1.25em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 1rem; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right; width: 355.519px;"><a
href="https://wpdash.medianewsgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GAO-nuclear-waste-sites.jpg"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--primary); text-decoration: none; display: block;"><img
class="lazyautosizes lazyloaded"
src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GAO-nuclear-waste-sites.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
alt="The U.S. Government Accountability Office's map of sites storing spent nuclear waste in the United States."
data-sizes="auto"
data-src="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GAO-nuclear-waste-sites.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1"
data-attachment-id="4239546"
data-srcset="https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GAO-nuclear-waste-sites.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1 620w,https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/GAO-nuclear-waste-sites.jpg?fit=310%2C9999px&ssl=1 310w"
style="margin: 0px 0px 0.3125em; padding: 0px; border: none; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%;"
width="811"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"
style="margin: 0px; padding: 0em 0em 0.625em; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 216, 213); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; font: 400 0.8125em / 1.23077 Poppins, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(93, 91, 90); background-color: transparent; float: none; text-align: left; width: 355.519px;">The
U.S. Government Accountability Office’s map of sites
storing spent nuclear waste in the United States.</figcaption></figure>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">He’d
feel a lot better if the dry storage systems were hoisted
another 20 feet in the air.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">Lochbaum
would feel a lot better if more regular and rigorous
inspections of dry storage systems and canisters were
required.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;">And
all of us would feel a lot better if the federal
government stopped dithering and finally found America’s
commercial nuclear waste a permanent home, as it promised
to do so many decades ago.</p>
<p
style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; box-sizing: inherit;"> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
-------
Ray Lutz
Citizens' Oversight Projects (COPs)
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.citizensoversight.org">http://www.citizensoversight.org</a>
619-820-5321</pre>
</body>
</html>