Unusual Events at San Onofre 2-21-12 10:30 am

We were giving an interview down in front of the nuclear power plant. The reporter was surprised that we could get so close to the plant and at how low the Tsunami Wall actually was. I told him we could take a walk for a closer look.  After reaching the midpoint we stopped and did some more interviewing and picture taking. There was an unusual turbulent release of water just 20 yards out into the ocean. I've never seen anything like that out of the many times I've been there. Then the loudspeakers came on announcing some kind of issue down at Gate 4. That is when we started feeling like maybe we should get out of there and sure enough, the next announcement was for us to leave and to stop taking pictures. That is the first time I've ever been acknowledged when down there, so I'm actually relieved to know someone is starting to pay more attention to unusual activities in front of the plant. When we arrived back at the cars we were met by the heavily armed security guard who insisted I stop filming because of the "S.I." equipment he was wearing. It would have been rather intimidating if he wasn't 70 years old. He took the reporters information and was actually quite nice. He happened to mention that there had been some kind of minor accident (or injury?) at the plant and with that bit of news we were happy to be on our way. So far, no news about what the security guard was referring to but I intend to find out if possible.

WHISTLEBLOWERS SUGGEST REASON FOR PROBLEM WITH TUBES AT SAN ONOFRE

Photo courtesy of Nuclear Street Portal

There is no official word yet, but the rumor from insiders at the plant is that the problem with the new generators may be very time consuming and difficult to resolve. It seems that the tubes have been configured in such a way as to have unintentionally created a situation where water passes through the tubes at such a high velocity that it causes the kind of wear they would expect to see after 20 to 30 years of service. If true, ratepayers could be on the hook for huge repair and replacement costs in order to extend the life of the plant beyond its intended lifespan, and even then, reliability will be in question.

It was also stated that ruptured tubes under high pressure can result in a chain reaction causing adjacent tubes to rupture if not stopped in time, with potentially catastrophic results.

Another point stressed was that standard procedures were violated if they discovered the problem in Unit 2's tubes when it was being serviced before the leak occurred in Unit 3. When a failure of any critical system is discovered it is the responsibility of the plant operator to make the conservative decision to shutdown and inspect any "like components". In this case it appears that this was not done for the exact duplicate components in Unit 3.

I also got word that many workers inside the plant are secretively supportive of decommissioning and wish us on the outside success in doing what they can only hope for while clinging to their jobs. To that I say thanks for the encouragement, and thanks for doing your best to keep us all safe, but it is time for them to do a little soul searching. There is too much at stake to be thinking of your own security. Now is the time to let your concerns be known publicly.

ACTION ALERT for CA citizens we are once again asking for you help.

Fukushima USA 

TAKE ACTION NOW:

Email these people. Ken Alex (nuclear point man for Gov Brown) at http://www.cp-dr.com/contact < span="">>; Lori Donchak ; Tim Brown ; Bob Baker ; PatBates@ocgov.com,

This a sample letter about our new push to get gov't to work for the people. For Ken Alex you will need to go to the website and put your letter in, because you cannot direct email him.
Please come to San Clemente City Hall on Feb 21 at 6 pm to once again ask for action and to have this matter put on the agenda.

The citizens of San Clemente, Orange County and California are asking our elected officials to do the proper steps to ensure the safety of its citizens by taking responsibility to set up a radiation monitoring system around San Onofre Waste Generating Station. SONGS has had many safety violations and close calls. According to the NRC stats SONGS has the worst safety record of all hundred four reactors in America. http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-340798-plan-san.html

We as citizens feel it is time for the City of San Clemente government, Orange County government and California government to act responsibly and provide accurate radiation monitoring that is easily accessed by the public so that we may be informed as to what is leaking and at what level and how much we are being exposed to by this old deteriorating nuclear power plant. In conjunction with this request we believe it is time that the above government agencies provide an epidemiology study to inform the public what the affect of California's two nuclear power plants over these many years has had on our health?

Now we have another new problem at SONGS;

"Radiation levels in the plant’s cooling system [Unit 2] doubled from January to February 2011 and continued to climb through the end of the year.

..increasing levels of radiation in the water that cools the reactor probably indicates that the metal tubes (called cladding) that contain its fuel pellets are cracking.”

— David Lochbaum, Union of Concerned Scientists, after reviewing Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reactor operation statistics http://sanonofresafety.org/2012/02/17/radiation-levels-increase-in-san-onofre-cooling-system/

We want action from government of our behalf because the 1st job of government is to insure the safety of the people.,<>

Open Letter to San Clemente City Council - Request for Response

Before you read this, I'd just like to point out that this is DAY 17 without any nuclear power coming from San Onofre, and the lights are still on. I think maybe they need us more than we need them.

Mayor and Councilmembers,

After coming so far on the issues surrounding nuclear power,  I am deeply disappointed that none of you took the time to even respond to our recent requests on this pressing topic. This Tuesday’s city council meeting has a light agenda and could have been the perfect opportunity to consider our concerns and come to some decision in your official capacity.

Our first request was to direct staff to look into having a Radiation Monitoring Station in San Clemente. Secondly, we wanted you to investigate the possibility of having an Epidemiological Study done to determine if there are any indications that we have an unusual number of health problems which might be related to radiation exposure. Thirdly, we simply wanted you to participate with us in our Fukushima Remembered event to honor those lost and still suffering from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 3/11/11.

I can't understand why none of these requests measured up to the level of significance that might be worthy of your response. We currently are awaiting the news from Edison about how much radiation may have been released based on the extent of damage to the new generator tubes at San Onofre. France has recently released reports of higher incidences of cancer around nuclear power plants, especially amongst children. Japan continues to suffer the consequences of politicians and government agencies neglecting their responsibilities to consider public safety above the will of the industry. How is it that these revelations do not resonate in your hearts and minds when your public repeatedly brings them to your attention?

Again, we ask you to place these matters of great concern to many of the residents of San Clemente on your next agenda. Please find it within your fiduciary responsibility to act wisely and swiftly. Today there was a news report in Reuters where Japan's former Premier expressed how 3/11 changed his way of thinking about nuclear power.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, “The Fukushima crisis destroyed the myth that atomic energy is safe, cheap and clean and prompted Japan to scrap a plan to boost its share of electricity demand to more than half by 2030. While many technological measures can be taken to secure safety at nuclear power plants, such measures on their own cannot cover great risks," said Kan, sitting in front of a calligraphy scroll inscribed with the ancient Chinese proverb "Be Brave, But Not Reckless".

Kan's defenders say a key cause of his downfall was his call to wean Japan from nuclear power -- a stance popular with the public but opposed by many including politically powerful utilities.
(see full article here)

Respectfully yours,
Gary Headrick

How Do We Still Have Power When San Onofre is not Operating (19 days and counting)?

(Total shutdown continues due to failing new generators which cost us $680 Million)

I asked this question of a whistle blower who was a licensed nuclear operator at San Onofre and got the following explanation... 

All providers of electricity from any source feed power into the Western United States Grid. The grid is managed and operated by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) who directs power where it is needed. Power is constantly being pushed into the grid, circulating a margin of power that exceeds consumption, providing us with a constant buffer. Only that which is consumed gets metered and results in compensation to the provider.
Small scale providers using natural gas, hydro, wind and solar are in less demand because they are competing with nuclear power which has artificially lower expenses due to subsidies and other invisible burdens carried by society. Nuclear power must run at full capacity 24/7 because that is the nature of this technology. It can’t be dialed up or down to adjust to fluctuations in demand, so it just sits there churning out power regardless of how much actually gets used.
Now that our nuclear power source is in complete shutdown mode, the other sources of electricity are able to charge SCE a premium to meet their obligations. This is good business for the smaller independent providers, giving them a larger share of the market. While this may sound bad for the ratepayers who always get stuck with the bill, it demonstrates the financial exposure we face by relying on nuclear power, let alone the many other well known risks of using radiation to boil water. The fact is that the $640 million invested in each of the failing generators came out of our pockets, as will the expenses to repair or replace them (if we allow it).
We use nuclear power because it is available, not because we need it. We blindly accept the risk of a Fukushima scale disaster because we are led to believe we would have to endure blackouts and huge financial losses without it. The industry likes to claim that they provide Californians with 19% of our energy, but according to data (see attached) from the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), there would still be a buffer of excess power available from other sources if we did not use nuclear power at all. Truly sustainable energy providers would enjoy financial stability leading to more rapid advances in technology getting us closer to energy independence and addressing climate change while creating jobs and a better economy.
It is time to demand that the CPUC steps in on behalf of ratepayers and put an end to this literal abuse of power. A small group of individuals reap the benefits of huge profits and undue influence at the expense of many. They will run these nuclear power plants until we force them to shutdown or allow them to meltdown. What more proof is required to understand that we don’t need them after having no nuclear power for 19 days and counting? Let’s move on to a cleaner, safer and more prosperous future.
Even if we had to be a little more careful about how we waste energy in order to avoid excessive demands on the grid during the summer we can definitely get by without nuclear power in California. Don't believe what the industry is telling us about the hardships it would create.

We are having “Fukushima Remembered” on 3/10 with guest speakers from Fukushima and a protest at the plant on 3/11, the first anniversary of the tragedy in Japan. Sign up here to be updated on our activities. We are counting on big numbers to offset the big money acting for profit above safety. Please share our message with others and make a donation if you can.  Thanks!

 

Surfing San Onofre For Change @Surfing4Change

Surfing For Change, created and hosted by Kyle Thiermann is a free youtube series and is on a mission is to shatter the myth that activists don't have any fun.

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Fukushima Remembered San Clemente City Council

For all of those within 100 miles of San Clemente, please try to make an appearance at our City Council Meeting tonight!

6:00pm at City Hall 100 Avenida Presidio (Oral Communications Part 1 - not very long)

Please show (friendly, respectful, quiet) support for our requests of City Council regarding SAN ONOFRE

*Ask City to team up with us for our FUKUSHIMA REMEMBERED event on March 10 

*Install an INDEPENDENT RADIATION MONITORING SYSTEM for San Clemente Citizens 

*Help us find $8,200 for an EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY to determine cancer trends near plant 

*Insist that solutions for LEAKING GENERATORS be presented to the public BEFORE RESTARTING.

Can't Make it? Call and let them know how you feel (949) 361-8200

San Clemente In Solidarity With Fukushima.

BE LIKE ELLA!