Nuclear Workers Douse San Onofre Plant With Water As Blaze Nears

As a precaution in response to brush fires at nearby and out-of-control fires ripping through southern California near the shut-down nuclear facility, Southern California Edison (SCE) (NYSE:EIX) posted personnel at the south boundary of San Onofre nuclear plant, who are dousing the plant grounds with water.

The chief nuclear officer says he’s evacuated 13 non-essential employees from the southern boundary area.

Tom Palmisano, SCE vice president and chief nuclear officer, said SCE notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission resident inspector just before noon about the evacuation of the plant area known as the South Yard.

Palmisano said site nuclear facility personnel were dousing vegetation at the south boundary with water as a preventive measure.

San Onofre has dispatched some of its personnel to Camp Pendleton to assist base personnel with firefighting efforts, he said.

“We will continue to monitor the fires near Camp Pendleton and support firefighting efforts,” Palmisano said. 

“The fires do not pose a safety issue at San Onofre at this time, but we continue to coordinate with regional agencies to ensure we remain apprised of evolving conditions.”

San Onofre is shut down and preparing to decommission. SCE announced in June that it would retire San Onofre Units 2 and 3, and begin preparations to decommission the facility.

Meetings were held today in Sacramento about who will pay for the permanent closure: industry or ratepayers.

Source: Southern California Edison