Dismantlement of San Onofre Plant Structures Underway Story and photos courtesy Southern California Edison The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station with its two prominent domes has been a familiar fixture along the Southern California coast for more than four decades. But that view is going to undergo a significant change. Work to dismantle the plant started in February and will include the eventual removal of the landmark domes, buildings and other structures. The plant’s co-owners, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and the cities of Riverside and Anaheim, made the decision to retire the facility in 2013. Since then, the project to decommission and dismantle the site has undergone rigorous planning and state environmental reviews. Last October, the California Coastal Commission approved the final permit for the project and that paved the way for deconstruction to begin. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations allow up to 60 years to complete decommissioning.
However, SCE believes completing the work in a timely manner benefits customers, local communities, and the environment and expects the dismantlement process to be completed in 8 to 10 years. “We’re going to be a good neighbor throughout the decommissioning process, and that means providing timely, usable information to the community and to the people who use the recreational resources next door to us,” said Doug Bauder, SCE vice president and chief nuclear officer for the San Onofre plant. “We’ll provide quarterly updates going forward, so folks are aware of the work that is happening on site.” Twelve thousand residents living within a five-mile radius of the plant received Notice of Deconstruction mailers 30 days prior to the start of work. SCE and its contractor are taking steps to help ensure the work has minimal impact on access to the surrounding recreational areas. In the coming months, work will include performing site preparatory activities and traffic control for transporting a large component by rail. Staging areas
On the left, looking north from the beach, the two San Onofre domes as they appear now. On the right, what the area will look like after deconstruction.
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Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Journal
Winter 2020 | www.oceansidechamber.com
