Engagement Panel News
Stay connected with what’s happening with the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel.
The NRC will host an online meeting to discuss the Diablo Canyon ISFSI License Renewal Application on January 26, 2021 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Pacific Time).
The current license for the Diablo Canyon (DC) Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) expires in March 2024. Because the DC ISFSI is a site-specific license, NRC regulations require a license renewal application to be submitted at least two-years prior the expiration date. PG&E is planning to submit a license renewal application for the DC ISFSI in the fourth quarter of 2021. It is a common practice to hold a public presubmittal meeting with the NRC to notify them of the intent to submit a license renewal application.
The public is invited to observe this meeting and will have one or more opportunities to communicate with the NRC after the business portion of the meeting, but before the meeting is adjourned.
Because this is a virtual meeting, the NRC requests that you inform the NRC’s meeting contact of your intention to attend (either in person or by telephone) by January 22, 2021.
The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel announced the following public meeting schedule for 2021. The Public Panel meetings are held from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM and will take place online until such time that in-person meetings can be held safely under the California COVID-19 guidance.
- 1st Quarter, 2021 (within 2-weeks of CPUC ruling on the 2018 NDCTP) – 2018 NDCTP CPUC Ruling and Implications / Decommissioning Regulatory Process and Planning Update
- May 26, 2021 – Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage and Management Update
- August 11, 2021 – Facility Repurposing and Lands Update
- November 3, 2021- Strategic Vision Update / Project Application and the CEQA Process
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to extend their deadline to issue a ruling on the Diablo Canyon 2018 Nuclear Decommissioning Cost Triennial Proceeding (NDCTP) to March 13, 2021 (see CPUC order).
The Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel meeting to review the anticipated CPUC ruling, which was previously planned for early December, will be postponed until after the CPUC issues its ruling.
The purpose of this meeting between Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E, the licensee) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, is to provide information to the NRC staff regarding a proposed license amendment request to revise the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2 licenses and technical specifications to reflect a permanently defueled condition. The public is invited to attend the teleconference meeting and will have the opportunity to provide public comment.
On October 28, 2020, the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel hosted a virtual public meeting to discuss water resources at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant and surrounding lands. Specific topics included the breakwater and marina, intertidal areas along the 14 miles of coastline and the desalinization facility. The meeting was a virtual meeting where the public had the opportunity to submit questions to the Panel during the meeting and also present formal public comment.
The Engagement Panel meeting on the storage and transportation of spent nuclear fuel at DCPP originally scheduled for October 28 was rescheduled to early 2021 so that information regarding PG&E’s recent request for proposal for an updated spent nuclear storage system would be available. PG&E recently released a risk analysis, requested by the Engagement Panel, on the fuel handling and storage programs as DCPP. The risk analysis, conducted by the B. John Garrick Institute for Risk Sciences at UCLA, can be viewed HERE.
The Engagement Panel also plans to host an additional public meeting in late November or early December of this year immediately after the California Public Utilities Commission issues its anticipated ruling on the 2018 Nuclear Decommissioning Cost Triennial Proceeding. The purpose of this meeting will be to understand the ruling and its implications for our community.
View Meeting Agenda and Presentation Materials
View a Recording of the Virtual Public Meeting
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel today announced the appointment of three new members to the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel, and the reappointment of four members. The panel provides community input to PG&E as the company prepares a site-specific plan for the future decommissioning of Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP).
Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel members include:
- Timothy Auran, Avila Beach area (new appointment)
- Patrick Lemieux, Morro Bay (new appointment)
- Charlene Rosales, San Luis Obispo (new appointment)
- Lauren Brown, San Luis Obispo (reappointed)
- Scott Lathrop, San Luis Obispo (reappointed)
- Linda Seeley, Los Osos (reappointed)
- Kara Woodruff, San Luis Obispo (reappointed)
- David M. Baldwin, Atascadero
- Dena Bellman, Pismo Beach
- Sherri Danoff, Avila Beach
- Alex Karlin, San Luis Obispo
- Trevor Keith, San Luis Obispo County (Ex Officio)
- Maureen Zawalick, San Luis Obispo, (PG&E)
Currently seated panel members and PG&E conducted an in-depth review of 50 applications from community members who broadly reflect the diverse community viewpoints in proximity to DCPP. The selection committee praised the quality and qualifications of those who applied.
“On behalf of the Panel, we sincerely appreciate the time and effort put forth by each candidate to apply, and we’re thrilled that so many experienced and talented community leaders offered to be a part of this important process. We welcome these new members and feel confident that the diverse composition of the Panel will enable the group to capture the community’s collective vision related to the future decommissioning of Diablo Canyon,” said panel facilitator Chuck Anders.
The three new appointees to the panel fill roles previously held by Frank Mecham and Dr. Nancy O’Malley, as well as an additional role created by the conversion of Trevor Keith’s role on the Panel to that of an Ex Officio member. Said Anders, “We have benefitted from the many contributions of Frank Mecham and Nancy O’Malley on this panel, and we sincerely thank them for their insights and efforts.”
Finally, Maureen Zawalick, who leads PG&E’s decommissioning program, will now represent the company on the panel, taking the seat previously held by Chief Nuclear Officer Jim Welsch.
About the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel
The Engagement Panel is a forum to facilitate the two-way flow of information between local community members and PG&E on matters related to DCPP decommissioning. Since its inception in 2018, the Panel meets regularly to discuss decommissioning topics important to the community such as future use of the facility and lands surrounding the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Visit the Panel’s website at DiabloCanyonPanel.org for information or to submit questions or comments to the Panel.
On July 9, 2020, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a report to Congress identifying best practices for establishment and operation of local community advisory boards associated with decommissioning activities at nuclear power plants. The NRC conducted two webinars and eleven public meetings at communities addressing facility decommissioning, including San Luis Obispo.
On July 9, 2020, the Hourglass Project hosted an online webinar and released the REACH 2030 Action Plan for Central Coast Job Creation. The plan was created by a coalition of buiness and civic leaders through a collaborative process. It identifies four strategic priorities to drive job creation and includes an initiative to influence the transformation of Diablo Canyon.
On June 30, 2020, PG&E responded to a June 1st request from the CPUC to provide instructions to parties interested in Diablo Canyon land use and disposition. PG&E’s response letter provides a description of the lands, instructions to interested parties and a public process for review of Diablo Canyon Land Disposition.
