San Clemente to ask about San Onofre safety

Concerns about safety and emergency preparedness regarding the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station have magnified since a community-alert siren sounded inadvertently about 4:30 a.m. Jan. 19, leaving many nearby residents wondering what was up.

The City Council has scheduled an appearance by Greg Warwick, senior Nuclear Regulatory Commission resident inspector at San Onofre, to report on safety at the power plant just south of town.

Southern California Edison shut off the reactor in September for refueling and to swap out two aging 640-ton steam generators. On Jan. 19, Gary Headrick, founder of San Clemente Green, asked for the city’s support in delaying reactivation of Unit 2 until there is assurance it is safe. He cited reports about concerns of some employees at the plant, air pockets in some welds on one of the new steam generators and NRC investigations into safety practices at San Onofre.

That day, a mistaken 4:30 a.m. sounding of one of Edison’s emergency-alert sirens in San Clemente awakened area residents who tried available channels to find out what was up but couldn’t.

Headrick has sent out hundreds of e-mails hoping to rally anyone concerned about San Onofre to be at the council meeting. He has circulated a petition – reporting 379 signatures so far – asking the city to set up a community meeting on San Onofre safety issues, seeking to forestall Unit 2 reactivation until the concerns are addressed.

Edison hasn’t said when Unit 2 will restart.

Today’s council meeting begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Avenida Presidio. Edison said Ross Ridenoure, chief nuclear officer at the plant, will be there to discuss any issues raised and to answer questions.

It is the first topic on the meeting agenda. Other topics include San Clemente’s long-term financial plan, a proposed structural assessment of various municipal buildings and possible approval of new designs and locations for directional signs around town.