NRC Schedules Online Meeting on SONGS Inspection

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Nov. 8 will conduct an online public meeting to discuss its preliminary findings on a spent fuel handling error at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in California.

In an initial report issued earlier this month, NRC staff cited “multiple performance deficiencies” by Southern California Edison, majority owner and licensee for the facility that closed permanently in 2013.

All used fuel from reactor Units 2 and 3 is being moved from wet to dry storage at the San Diego County plant. As a fuel canister was being placed into its below-ground slot in the storage pad on Aug. 3, it came to rest on a “divider assembly” and was at risk of an 18-foot drop until the problem was identified and fixed after about an hour.

Inspectors from the NRC conducted an on-site investigation of the incident during the week of Sept. 10. The probe is continuing. An NRC spokesman said there was no update as of Monday: “We’re working to get the report out as early as we can.”

The spent fuel transfer is on hold at least until the NRC issues the final findings.

The webinar is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central time. It will provide a presentation from NRC staff, with opportunities for participants to submit questions.

Registration for the webinar is available here.