Layoffs won't begin at San Onofre until nuclear fuel is removed from Unit 2 reactor core

The Capistrano Dispatch has reported that, even though Edison International has announced the permanent shutdown of its San Onofre Generating Station (SONGS) Unit 2 and 3 reactors:

"The plant’s 1,500 person staff will not be cut until its revised emergency preparedness and security plans, for a shutdown plant, are approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Craver said. Currently, the regulatory body views the plant as operational since Unit 2 still houses nuclear fuel."

Of course, as pointed out by Ace Hoffman, longtime San Onofre watchdog, in a Counterpunch article, even though the reactor risks are no more, the high-level radioactive waste risks remain.

Swan SONGS as Edison opts to permanently close San Onofre

Southern California Edison has decided to permanently shutter its Units 2 and 3 San Onofre Nuclear Generating Stations (SONGS) reactors in Southern Cal! Congratulations to all who fought so hard for this great victory! Read the Edison press release.

As reported in certain media coverage, the likelihood that the fatal flaws with its steam generators would end up blocking its U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) 20-year license extension rubberstamp contributed to SCE's decision to permanently shutdown both reactors.

The sheer impossibility of evacuating the 7 to 8 million people who live and work within 50 miles of San Onofre in the event of a radiological emergency has been repeatedly raised by those seeking the reactors' permanent shutdown.

But as longtime San Onofre watchdog Ace Hoffman has pointed out in a Counterpunch article, while the reactor risks may have gone away, the radioactive waste risks remain. The good news is, no more new radioactive waste will be generated now at San Onofre.

"This is very good news for the people of Southern California," said [a] statement from Friends of the Earth president Erich Pica. "We have long said that these reactors are too dangerous to operate and now Edison has agreed. The people of California now have the opportunity to move away from the failed promise of dirty and dangerous nuclear power and replace it with the safe and clean energy provided by the sun and wind." 

Beyond Nuclear has compiled comprehensive media coverage on, and other reactions to, the San Onofre 2 & 3 closures at its Nuclear Retreat page.