Sunday, February 17, 2013

Mixed results from "Public" NRC meeting last Tuesday


from San Clemente Green -

LOOKING BACK ON NRC MEETING LAST TUESDAY and LOOKING FORWARD TO CPUC MEETING THURSDAY
(be sure to see details on this upcoming meeting below)

Union Members Make an Impressive Show of Force 
Photo Credit: Rose Palmisano of the OC Register  


My previous correspondence had to do with last minute maneuvers by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to thwart public input by making concessions to Edison apparently. They were only partially successful. Our negotiations leading up to the meeting included a special presentation by a coalition of grass roots organizations and a block of time dedicated to public officials who wanted to make statements at this meeting. Both were to be heard early in the proceeding.

While the NRC totally negated the planned presentation from concerned citizens, the public was extremely fortunate that calls from high places kept the elected officials segment in tact. Representatives from San Diego to Los Angeles stepped up to the plate, hitting one home run after another. The entire event was captured on Ustream which you can watch here. These articulate defenders of public safety spoke for about fifteen minutes beginning at 25:00 on this recording.

This was such a blow to Edison that Chief Nuclear Officer, Pete Dietrich was visibly shaken and proceeded to publicly chastise the facilitators for allowing such a thing to take place. For someone who believed he was in control of the entire meeting, this came as quite a shock. Apparently he hadn't been updated about our last minute re-negotiations with the NRC.

The public prevailed, even against extraordinary circumstances. Eloquent and well informed speakers gave excellent testimony, foregoing the State of the Union speech. Instead they witnessed a choreographed Labor Union speech cheered on by hundreds of construction workers who had been bused in after being given a nice barbecue dinner and gift bags from Costco.

News coverage was surprisingly good, as seen below, considering all the attention being given to the coincidental shootout with a cop killer. Thanks to the pressure being applied, on Thursday the NRC demanded the document showing that Southern California Edison (SCE) and MHI were aware of serious problems with the design of San Onofre nuclear power plant's replacement steam generators before they were installed. They were to be released by Mitsubishi to the public immediately. We're still waiting...

see also -whats up: NRC public meeting re #SanOnofre restart 2.21.2013

FYI - the NRC Moderator began the meeting with an accusation that a "rumor" had been started that this was to be the last public meeting and that was "patently untrue". It would have been nice if he simply admitted that the NRC had recently changed their plans to add at least one more meeting, perhaps in mid April. We'll keep you posted.


IMPORTANT to Show Up and BE HEARD
by the CA Public Utilities Commission:
(sorry, but no free rides, meals or other gifts unless you are with the Union)

NOT ONE MORE PENNY for SCE and SDG&E
Defective San Onofre Nuclear Reactors!

RATEPAYERS CONTINUE TO PAY $54 MILLION PER MONTH FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW WITH NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT!

Two sessions will be held on the same day.

When: Thursday, February 21, 2013, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. AND 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
From 2 p.m.-3 p.m., elected representatives and government officials will be given priority for public comment, particularly about the effectiveness of SCE's community outreach and coordination with local emergency preparedness in areas surrounding SONGS.

Our Coalition to Decommission San Onofre
will hold a Press Conference - scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
 Your participation at the NRC press conference made a huge impact!
Let's do it again!

Where: Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center,
1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa (Room holds about 400.) MAP

Members of the public who wish to address the CPUC must sign in at the hearing and will be called upon in the order listed on the sign-in sheet.

CPUC court reporters will transcribe all comments, which become part of the official record for the investigation.

(The CPUC is planning a second set of hearings in San Diego County to provide additional opportunities for public comment, BUT the date and time for these hearings have not yet been set.)


• KPBS  - Complaint Alleges Edison Inflated Costs Of Steam Generators | KPBS.org


• Channel 7 News - Former San Diego City Attorney, Michael Aguirre Demands refund for Ratepayers
SDG&E Ratepayers Owed Refund for San Onofre: Aguirre | NBC 7 San Diego


Sign up for this event on Facebook here.

 Please re-tweet, like, share and SHOW UP with family and friends!


see also 
whats up: NRC public meeting re #SanOnofre restart 2.21.2013 
Welcome to San Clemente Green | San Clemente Green
San Onofre Safety | San Onofre Nuclear Safety Issues
whats up: tag = San Onofre for more info, recent news, and links

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