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

will be established to accommodate material and equipment, and temporary trailers and related utilities will be installed in the parking lots north and east of the plant. The process also will include safely removing some components from off-shore conduits - those large pipes that brought and discharged ocean cooling water to the plant - as well as removal of offshore buoys and anchors. The dismantlement work will have a positive impact on the local economy. A 2015 study by Beacon Economics found that for Orange, San Diego and Los Angeles counties, the multi-year project will provide an approximately $3 billion economic impact. The core principles guiding the decommissioning process are safety, stewardship and engagement. “We will perform our activities in a way that maintains worker and public safety and we’ll be good stewards of the local environment and our decommissioning funds,” said Bauder. Funding for decommissioning comes from nuclear trust funds which were collected from customers over the years, grown through investment, and is fully funded. Any unused money will be returned to customers. Oversight of the trust fund expenditures is provided by the California Public Utilities Commission. Public walking tours of the facility will continue, and speakers are also available to talk to local residents and community organizations. The public also is encouraged to attend quarterly meetings of the San Onofre Community Engagement Panel for updates on dismantlement. To review environmental documents or join the email update list, visit SONGScommunity.com. You can contact the Deconstruction Liaison at nuccomm@songs.sce.com or call a toll-free number 800-332-3612 to ask questions or submit comments to SCE during dismantlement activities.

Crews on scaffolding at the San Onofre plant work on preparations for deconstruction.

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Helping Businesses Prosper and our Community Thrive!

Your investment in the Oceanside Chamber is making a difference in our community! The Chamber’s mission is to “stimulate economic prosperity and foster a vibrant community.” Here’s a quick overview of what your investment in the Chamber allowed us to accomplish in the recent weeks...

Public Policy/Business Advocacy

▪ The Chamber’s Public Policy Task Force met with representatives from the National Veteran’s Group to discuss legislation in support of a Veterans Retirement Income Tax Exemption. The Task Force also discussed the issue of “reciprocity” on training and licensing as it impacts transitioning military and non-military members of the workforce. The following policy platforms were recommended and were adopted by the Chamber’s Board…

▪ Support measures that reduce tax burdens on veterans and veteran-owned businesses.

▪ Support licensing reciprocity in industries where training/licensing standards are substantially similar.

▪ Chamber staff sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding dredging and the pending shoreline study in support of Oceanside City leaders’ trip to Washington, DC in early February. The Chamber continues to work with City leadership and business/community leaders toward solutions for our beach erosion issue.

▪ Joined a California Chamber coalition in opposition to SB850. This bill would eliminate flexibility in the workplace for both employers and employees by requiring employers to provide “modification pay” for changes made to an employee’s schedule with fewer than 7-days notice. Requires a 21-day work schedule that must be given to an employee no fewer than 7 days in advance before the first shift.

▪ Chamber CEO, Scott Ashton, participated with a group of Southern California Chamber leaders in meeting with Isabella Guzman, Director, Office of the Small Business Advocate with the Governors GoBiz office. We discussed a variety of concerns and issues faced by our small business owners.

▪ Sent a letter to CA State Senator Patricia Bates to express Oceanside Chamber’s opposition to SB 37 which imposes a targeted tax on California business, which, for certain companies, would raise California’s corporate tax rate – already one of the highest in the nation - up to 22.26%.

▪ Partnered with Visit Oceanside to develop a letter template for our local businesses to use to request that Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath support Oceanside’s efforts to develop innovative sand retention programs. Businesses who would like to express their concerns about the impact of Oceanside’s eroding beaches, can contact the Chamber for more information about participating in this outreach.

▪ The Chamber-supported repeal of the Health Insurance Tax passed congress, providing continuing relief for businesses from the Health Insurance Tax (HIT).

▪ Chamber’s Business and Community Political Action Committee (BACPAC) continued fundraising outreach to prepare to support the candidates we endorse for Oceanside Mayor and the District 3 and 4 races. The Chamber expects to announce its candidate endorsements early this summer.

Workforce Development

▪ Sent letter of support to city regarding their proposed partnership with Mira Costa College Technical Career Institute in a Hire Local Pilot

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Program. Under this program, the City would fund training for Oceanside residents in specific programs, chosen for their potential to result in relatively high-paying careers. The program is designed to incentivize the students to secure jobs with Oceanside businesses.

▪ The Chamber’s Workforce Development Task Force, continued work on the development of a pilot program to provide middle school students with exposure to emerging industries in our city and region. This program will be done in partnership with MiraCosta College’s Gear Up Program and will include tours of local businesses as well as MiraCosta’s Technical Career Institute. The program is expected to launch this Spring.