Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website
for the replacement of steam generators for Units 2 and 3 at Southern
California Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).
An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on February 27,
2004. The Project was reviewed under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). A Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was
issued in September 2005 and the CPUC approved the project in December
2005. This site provides access to public documents and information
relevant to the CEQA review process and project implementation.
Background
Southern California Edison Company (SCE) filed an application with
the CPUC to: (1) replace the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
Units 2 and 3 (SONGS 2 & 3) steam generators; (2)
establish ratemaking for cost recovery; and (3) address other related
steam generator replacement issues. The project will enable SONGS
2 & 3 to remain in service until the end of the current terms
of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licenses. The current
licenses both authorize SONGS 2 & 3 to operate until 2022.
However, the existing steam generators have exhibited degradation
and they are currently predicted to reach the end of their operating
life within the next several years. The original steam generators
will eventually reach a state where, under applicable NRC regulations,
either the steam generators must be replaced or the units must be
shut down.
SONGS 2 & 3 went into operation in 1983 and 1984, respectively.
SONGS 2 & 3 use four steam generators, two per unit, which
are large heat exchangers that convert heat from the reactor into
steam to drive the turbine generators and produce electricity. All
four will be replaced as part of the project. SONGS 2 & 3 produce
a combined nominal 2,150 net megawatts of electric power, enough
to power approximately 2.1 million homes. The SONGS facility is
located in northwest San Diego County and surrounded by Camp Pendleton,
San Onofre State Beach, and Interstate 5.
Environmental Review Process
SCE filed a PEA with the Application in February 2004. This document
provided a starting point for the environmental review process conducted
by the CPUC.
The CPUC on October 1, 2004, issued a Notice
of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for SONGS
Steam Generator Replacement Project. Scoping meetings were held
in October 2004. Scoping meetings were held in October 2004.
The Draft Environmental Impact Report
(DEIR) was issued on April 15, 2005.
The submittal period for written comments
on the Draft EIR ended May 31, 2005.
The Final Environmental Impact Report
(Final EIR) was issued on September 21, 2005. The Final EIR consists
of two volumes: Volume I is the complete EIR showing changes
made to the Draft EIR, and Volume II consists of all comments
on the Draft EIR and responses to comments.
The CPUC found the Final EIR to be adequate and certified the document
as compliant with CEQA. The CPUC issued its decision D.05-12-040
on December 15, 2005.
Project Activities Subsequent
to CPUC Approval
In December 2008, CPUC issued authorization to SCE to begin the
steam generation replacement process which includes the following
steps:
- Replacement steam generator transport
- Replacement steam generator staging and preparation
- Original steam generator removal, staging and disposal
- Replacement steam generator installation and return to service
Compliance review for pre-construction mitigation measures identified
in the Mitigation Monitoring Plan as presented in the Final EIR
has been conducted by CPUC. This plan ensures that the approved
project will be conducted as defined, and that all adopted mitigation
measures and Applicant Proposed Measures will be implemented in
order that effects on the environment do not exceed those described
in the Final EIR. A CPUC Notice to Proceed was issued after compliance
with pre-construction mitigation requirements was satisfied by SCE.
A CPUC Environmental Monitor monitored the steam generator
replacement activities to ensure that they are conducted in accordance
with the approved mitigation measures and permit conditions. Reports
documenting this monitoring activity are available here.
For Additional Information
Requests for additional information should be sent to:
Jensen Uchida, CPUC Project Manager
c/o Aspen Environmental Group
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 935
San Francisco, CA 94104
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