San Onofre nuclear plant can restart before safety and criminal investigations are complete
The restart of the San Onofre nuclear plant could be authorized before the conclusion of investigations into the conduct of the plant operator, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told a Senate committee on Thursday.
At a re-confirmation hearing in Washington, Allison Macfarlane said she expected her agency’s evaluation of a restart proposal to conclude at about the same time as an investigation into whether plant operator Southern California Edison provided accurate and complete information to federal nuclear safety regulators.
But if the investigation lasts longer, nuclear commission staff would consult with their agency’s Office of Investigations on any safety issues that may have emerged from the Edison probe. No specific time frames were discussed.
The technical staff “will follow their procedures and will talk to the office of Investigations staff and ask, ‘Are their any safety issues?’” Macfarlane said.
The comments were a response to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairman of the environment and public works committee that provides oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, who sought assurances that the investigations will be completed before any restart decision.
“Let’s just say if SoCal Edison wasn’t honest with what they said to the commission and you allowed them to restart -- let’s just say we have a problem,” Boxer said.
A separate investigation into allegations of possible willful wrongdoing by nuclear commission personnel is being conducted by the agency’s Office of the Inspector General.
The investigations are just one potential regulatory hurdle as Edison seeks permission to restart one of two reactors that have been sidelined since a radiation leak occurred on January 2012.
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http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/may/23/nuclear-restart-awaiting/
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