Proposed “HELMS” Storage plan requires 1,000 year design life rather thancurrent 40-year life such as those in use at San Onofre

East County News Service

January 4, 2018 (San Diego) --  Citizens Oversight, the organization that negotiated a plan of action to move the waste from San Onofre, announced  Tuesday that it has submitted a formal petition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) under NRC regulations that govern how the nuclear industry handles spent nuclear fuel.  The basis for the proposed changes is established by the HELMS proposal, also part of the submission, meaning Hardened, Extended-life, Local, Monitored, Surface storage. HELMS requires a design life for safe containment of toxic nuclear spent fuel of 1,000 years rather than the current requirement of only 40 years, despite the reality that the spent fuel will likely remain on the surface for at least 200 years.

Agency will send senior official to SONGS meeting on June 22

East County News Service

May 7, 2016 (Washington D.C) -- Congressman Darrell lssa says he is pleased with the Department of Energy's response to a letter he sent earlier this month asking the Department of Energy to hold an additional meeting in Southern California to discuss options for the nation's plan to handle the long-term storage of nuclear waste.

Acknowledging Congressman Issa’s request, the Department of Energy has agreed to send the Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, John F. Kotek, to attend the next SONGS Community Engagement Panel meeting on June 22, where he will be seeking opinions and input from residents, elected officials and community leaders on this important issue. The Congressman encourages members of the public to attend.