Diablo Canyon Decommissioning panel releases reuse recommendations
–The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel has issued its Strategic Vision for the reuse of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, 14 miles of coastline and 12,000 acres of lands surrounding the plant when it ceases operations in 2024 on Unit 1 and 2025 on Unit 2. The Strategic Vision document will be submitted to PG&E and to the California Public Utilities Commission, and reflects public input received by the panel since May 2018. The document is available for review at pge.com/engagementpanel.
The Strategic Vision document includes vision statements, goals and specific recommendations for the decommissioning process, funding, use of surrounding lands and the disposition of the non-radiological facilities. The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel has conducted seven public meetings and hosted four full-day workshops to understand the decommissioning process and solicit public input. The panel received and reviewed over 950 individual public comments. Key recommendations include:
- The decommissioning (decontamination) process should begin immediately upon shutdown with a goal of 10 years for completion of radiological decommissioning and decontamination, avoiding SAFSTOR (which allows up to 60-year delay in decontamination)
- The health and safety of the community and the environmental quality of the area should be the primary consideration when evaluating cost-effective methods of decommissioning in order to save ratepayers money
- The 12,000 acres that surround the DCPP are a spectacular natural resource and need to be conserved in perpetuity while allowing for managed public access and use
- The repurposing of facilities should be explored as a way to both reduce the amount of demolition materials created and create opportunities for new local jobs and economic development while considering public safety, traffic concerns and the environmental quality of the region
- The engagement panel should be in a form that would lead to the best possible recommendations on achieving a safe and effective decommissioning of the DCPP, including the disposition of Diablo Canyon Lands and Facilities
PG&E has committed to continue to support the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel throughout the decommissioning process in order to share information with the public and understand the public’s concerns and preferences. The panel has scheduled the following topics for discussion in 2019:
- Feb. 22 & 23, 2019 – Two Full Day Workshops on Spent Fuel Storage
- March 13, 2019 – Public Meeting on Spent Fuel Storage
- June 12, 2019 – Public Meeting on Engagement the Panel’s Role, Function and Structure
- Sept. 18, 2019 – Public Meeting on the Economic Impacts of Decommissioning
- Nov. 13, 2019 – Public Meeting on Transportation
About the Diablo Canyon Engagement Panel
The panel was created by PG&E to foster open and transparent dialogue between members of the local community and PG&E on topics regarding the future decommissioning of Diablo Canyon Power Plant near Avila Beach. The panel is comprised of eleven representatives from the local community who broadly reflect the diverse community stakeholder viewpoints in proximity to Diablo Canyon Power Plant. For more information about the Panel, including the formation process, visit pge.com/engagementpanel.
