San Diego Bay Council Position on Re-Licensing of Steam Generators at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

If the steam generators are not re-licensed at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (“SONGS”), the plant will be forced to close. San Diego Bay Council opposes the re-licensing of the steam generators for SONGS for the following water quality reasons:

1. Much like once-through cooled plants such as the South Bay Power Plant, SONGS can use millions of gallons of seawater per day for steam production and for cooling. When SONGS takes in and discharges seawater for steam production and cooling, fish and other aquatic life are adversely affected. In addition, water discharges include elevated amounts of toxic chemicals such as chlorine (used to treat incoming water for anti-fouling purposes). Water pollutants, such as heavy metals (i.e. copper from condensers and tubing) and salts, build up in the water used by SONGS. These water pollutants, as well as the higher temperature of the water discharged from the power plant, negatively affect water quality and aquatic life.
2. Currently, radioactive waste is stored onsite at SONGS, but the storage capacity has nearly reached its maximum and no new storage areas have been identified yet. Laws require that the waste be stored in either steel-lined, concrete vaults filled with water or in above-ground steel or steel-reinforced concrete containers with steel inner canisters. In addition to the fuel waste, much of the equipment at SONGS becomes contaminated with radiation and will become radioactive waste after the plant is closed. These wastes will remain radioactive for many thousands of years. Some waste from the plant may enter rainwater runoff and contaminate groundwater and surface water resources with heavy metals and traces of radioactive uranium.
3. There are 4 steam generators at SONGS. All of them are currently partially clogged and prone to leakage. Corrosion and sedimentation have compromised them to the point where the stress and cracking have degraded the performance and reduced the safety margins of the entire system. If an accident occurred, radioactive waste could be released into the ocean with devastating impacts to habitat, water quality, and access to the water.
4. Seismic braces for the reactor vessels were installed incorrectly and are inadequate by today’s standards, making the facility prone to earthquakes and other potential natural disasters. If an earthquake occurred, radioactive waste could be released into the ocean with devastating impacts to habitat, water quality, and access to the water.