EYE ON SC
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LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTING
SC S a n C le m e n te
DANA POINT
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO A live leopard shark was discovered Monday at San Juan Hills Golf Club. Around 4 p.m., a course marshal discovered the shark, approximately 2 feet long, thrashing about on the 12th tee box. The marshal brought the shark back to the clubhouse, where cart attendant Bryan Stizer placed it briefly in a bucket filled with water and a bit of salt, before driving it out to Baby Beach in Dana Point to release it back into the ocean. According to Melissa McCormack, director of club operations, the shark had small puncture wounds near its dorsal fin and might have been dropped by a bird. Julianne Steers, chief aquarist at the Ocean Institute, said peregrine falcons and ospreys are common predatory birds in the area.
NEWS
NEXT DOOR WH AT ’S GO I N G O N I N OU R NE IGH B O R I N G TOW N S
Dana Point restaurateurs, the Olamendis, are celebrating their company’s upcoming 40th anniversary by unveiling the new, Olamendi’s Ultra-Premium Silver Organic Tequila. Jorge Sr. and Maria Olamendi opened their first restaurant in San Clemente in 1973 then moved to the current “original Olamendi’s” Dana PointCapistrano Beach location in 1976. By 2009 they were operating three locations in the city. During the past year they closed all but the original, in a decision to go “back to basics” with the restaurant and focus on moving forward with the line of private label gourmet foods and beverages they started in 2008. The line includes salsas, chips, organic coffee, beer and wine and now, after 15 years in the making, Olamendi’s Tequila. The tequila is now available at the restaurant and the brand will officially launch in stores by Thanksgiving.
SAN CLEMENTE’S TOP 5 HOTTEST TOPICS
What’s Up With... 1
… A San Onofre Cancer Study?
THE LATEST: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Tuesday that it would sponsor a cancer risk study in the vicinity of six nuclear plants around the country—including San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The NRC noted that a committee at the National Academy of Sciences had made recommendations whether and where to perform the studies. The Academy will be conducting the study. The release stated that the Academy had recommended using the six sites, including San Onofre, based on the operating history, population size and the ability to gather data from state cancer agencies. WHAT’S NEXT: The Academy will work to begin the study in the next three months, and it will likely continue into 2014. The study is attempting to update a 1990 National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute report on cancer in populations living near nuclear facilities. Gary Headrick of San Clemente Green said he was very happy to hear about the study. At the recent NRC public meeting regarding the future of SONGS in Dana Point, many voicing concern about a potential restart of the facility cited health worries and wanted to see a study similar to the one proposed. Southern California Edison also released a statement regarding the study, that the study would provide “valuable research on the issue.” FIND OUT MORE: As more information on the study becomes available, and for the full story, check back at www.sanclementetimes.com —Jim Shilander
San Clemente Times October 25–31, 2012
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… Sand Replenishment?
THE LATEST: City project engineer Tom Bonigut told members of various city commissions and the City Council Tuesday that it may take quite a bit of time to see any new sand on the city’s beaches, even as the city’s beach reclamation project has received positive feedback form the Army Corps of Engineers. Bonigut said the project would cost $11 million, of which $4 million would come from the city and the remainder from the federal government. The project would involve putting in new sand on a 3,400-foot section of beach, approximately 250,000 yards of sand. The same amount would have to be replaced every six years to keep up with current losses. WHAT’S NEXT: Bonigut said that while the project has been given the OK to be included as part of a larger appropriations bill, its future may be somewhat in doubt due to current Office of Management and Budget regulations. Bonigut explained that current OMB rules require 2.5 times the benefit for each dollar spent. This ratio may be an issue for funding the project in the future. He also stated that the absolute earliest time that replenishment work could begin was late 2015 or early 2016. FIND OUT MORE: For future updates, visit www.sanclementetimes.com. —JS
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… Poche Beach?
THE LATEST: Bonigut also told the meeting that the falconry project at Poche Beach had been successful at driving the gulls from the beach, but that overall water quality at the county-run beach had not
improved, as the gulls had simply moved out to the ocean, just out of reach of the falcons, which were tethered. Bonigut said that while the project was somewhat successful, it likely wouldn’t be looked at as a solution to the bacterial problems at the beach. WHAT’S NEXT: Bonigut added that there were a number of options being looked at to try and lessen the bacteria levels at the beach, which has led to a number of posted warnings against going into the water at the beach. Possible solutions included trying to lessen the use of the nearby outlet pond or potentially getting rid of it altogether. The city is partnering with the City of Dana Point and the Prima Deshecha Landfill about ways to reduce potential runoff issues and other potential solutions to the issue. FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.sanclementetimes.com. —JS
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… the Bicycle Master Plan?
THE LATEST: The San Clemente Planning Commission approved moving forward with a portion of the city’s new bicycle and pedestrian master plan, which will be incorporated into the city’s new General Plan. The plan would ensure that the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians are considered in future planning and development decisions of the city. Primary city planner Jeff Hook noted that many of the changes, wouldn’t be all that applicable to all development, such as construction or remodeling of homes, but would be very important to consider in larger projects. WHAT’S NEXT: The plan must still be approved as part of the larger General Plan
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package by both the Planning Commission and City Council. Hook expects final approvals to come in May 2013. FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.sanclementetimes.com. —JS
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… A SONGS Leak?
THE LATEST: A small hydrogen leak on the non-nuclear side of the generating facility at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station will force Southern California Edison to replace a small pipe fitting at the plant, which was discovered during testing over the weekend. The testing utilized a temporary boiler, which produced steam to heat the facility to its normal operating temperature. The nuclear reactors themselves were not on during the process. WHAT’S NEXT: The leak was reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Sunday, as well as the California Emergency Management Agency and San Diego Department of Environmental Health. A release from Southern California Edison indicated that the hydrogen was moving away from the leak, rather than accumulating. Since hydrogen is lighter than air, the hydrogen dissipated into the air. Both reactors are still shut down, as they have been since last January. San Onofre re-start opponent Gene Stone said the leak was part of “dangerous experiment,” at the plant. The California Public Utilities Commission will meet in Irvine Thursday and a potential investigation into the outage at San Onofre is on the agenda. FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.sanclementetimes.com. —JS Have a story idea or topic you would like to read about? Send your suggestions to editorial@sanclementetimes.com. www.sanclementetimes.com