Southern California Edison knew the new steam generators
were defective years before then even installed them in
the San Onofre nuclear reactors,
acccording to a report just released. These are the generators

that failed and caused both San Onofre reactors to shut down.
SD Edison wants to restart one of them,
and this document came out in that process.
Southern Company would never do this, right?
We shouldn’t worry about

failed concrete
or

15, no now 19, months delay
while the Georgia legislature

won’t even limit charges to Georgia Power customers for cost overruns.
Nope, no worries.

Friends of the Earth PR 8 March 2013,

San Onofre: Secret Report Confirms Edison Knew of Major Problems;
Friends of the Earth: ‘Bombshell’ for plans to restart crippled reactor

WASHINGTON—March 8—A secret Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
report released today confirms that Southern California Edison knew
about serious problems in the radically redesigned replacement steam
generators for the San Onofre nuclear reactors years before the
defective equipment was installed, yet failed to make changes to fix
the problems. The report was released today by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission after Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and
Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.) revealed its existence and
demanded it be made public.

The report documents that Edison knew

of specific safety concerns
with the replacement steam generator design as early as 2005, and
failed to incorporate changes proposed to fix it because they would
trigger a more lengthy and public review by the NRC. It fatally
undermines Edison’s case for restarting one of the plant’s crippled
reactors and for receiving any compensation from the California
Public Utility Commission.

“This is a bombshell,” said Damon Moglen, energy and
climate director for Friends of the Earth. “Edison clearly
knew about design problems with the San Onofre replacement steam
generators yet failed to take corrective action. Instead Edison
gambled with the safety of millions of Southern Californians. It is
inconceivable that the NRC would now give approval to restart these
damaged reactors without the thorough, public review of a license
amendment proceeding.”

David Freeman, former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water
and Power and a senior advisor to Friends of the Earth, said the
Mitsubishi report could prove pivotal with the California Public
Utility Commission, which is considering whether Edison can pass on
to its customers the $671 million cost of the faulty generators,
plus the cost of repairs and replacement power during the plant’s
shutdown, now in its 14th month. Said Freeman: “It’s clear
that ratepayers in Southern California can not be expected to pay
for Edison’s defective equipment if Edison acted imprudently. At
nuclear reactors, prioritizing construction speed over safety is the
height of imprudence.”

Since Sen. Boxer and Rep. Markey revealed the existence of the
report, Friends of the Earth has demanded that the NRC Petition
Review Board consider it in proceedings currently underway. The
Petition Review Board, in response to a petition from Friends of the
Earth, is determining whether Edison improperly failed to apply for
a license amendment before installing replacement steam generators
of a radically different design than was permitted under the
reactors’ operating license.

Nuclear engineers Arnie Gunderson of Burlington, Vt., and John Large
of London, consultants to Friends of the Earth, are reviewing the
Mitsubishi report and will provide expert analysis.

Click here for the MHI document.

Click here for the Friends of the Earth Petitions case.

###

Friends of the Earth is the U.S. voice of the world’s largest grassroots environmental network, with member groups in 77 countries. Since 1969, Friends of the Earth has fought to create a more healthy, just world.

 

-jsq