Coastal erosion renews urgency around San Onofre's nuclear waste storage
Recent storms have raised alarms about 3.6 million pounds of radioactive fuel stored near eroding Southern California cliffs.
What to know
- Hurricane Marie-driven coastal erosion has renewed concerns about 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste stored 100 feet from an eroding beach at shuttered San Onofre, though experts say near-term risk is extremely low.
- Geologists and a former NRC chair warn of long-term vulnerabilities: the site sits in a seismically active region, faces tsunami exposure from beach slope collapse, and steel canisters corrode in ocean air—waste that will remain hazardous for hundreds or thousands of generations.
- Southern California Edison has committed to moving the waste to higher elevation if modeling shows erosion becomes threatening, but critics argue the utility's current monitoring may be insufficient for long-term stewardship.
“At the moment, it is under control, I think it's essential to say that. But geologically we must be thinking long term. The waste lasts for hundreds, if not thousands of generations.”
James Day, UC San Diego geology professor · LA Times ↗
Southern California Edison Plant owner and waste custodianKim McCoy Oceanographer and nuclear waste storage advocateJames Day UC San Diego geology professorGreg Jaczko Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission head
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Former NRC chair questions adequacy of Edison's monitoring program
Greg Jaczko criticizes Southern California Edison's surveillance of the stored waste, saying the utility could increase monitoring beyond its current tracking of air temperature, radioactivity, and canister integrity.
“They could be doing more monitoring.”
— Greg Jaczko -
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The decommissioned San Onofre nuclear power plant holds 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste. Storm-driven erosion exposes California coast's vulnerability, reviving questions about storing nuclear waste 100 feet from the Pacific
1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
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Storm-driven erosion exposes vulnerability of California coast , reviving questions about keeping 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste just 100 feet from the Pacific at decommissioned San Onofre nuclear power plant. Utility officials insist seawalls and steel canister storage system can withstand tsunamis, quakes and rising seas for decades…
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background
Experts warn of long-term geologic vulnerabilities despite near-term safety assurances — UC San Diego geology professor James Day and former Nuclear Regulatory Commission head Greg Jaczko emphasize that while current risk is low, the site sits in a seismically active region with young rocks and faces threats from tsunamis, ocean air corrosion, and the multi-generational timescale of radioactive decay.
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Hurricane Marie-driven waves erode Southern California coast, spotlighting nuclear waste risks
Intense waves and flooding from Hurricane Marie fuel fresh concerns about coastal erosion threatening the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) holding 3.6 million pounds of high-level radioactive waste just 100 feet from the ocean.
“Rising sea levels, storm waves, El Niño which increases wave height ... these could wash away a section of the walkway that protects the San Onofre seawall and the waste canisters are just 100 feet away from that.”
— Kim McCoy -
background
San Onofre nuclear plant shuts down over faulty steam generators — The twin-reactor facility near San Clemente closes following a scandal involving defective steam generator components.
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first by Mastodon, 12d ago · also LA Times