San Onofre Restart Presentation Rescheduled

Updated Nov. 13 and again Nov. 20, 2012

Southern California Edison officials Nov. 30 are hoping to convince regulators they've figured out why and how crucial components at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station broke down, and that they've taken the right steps to safely restart the plant.

The public meeting Nov. 30 will be held from 6 and 9 p.m. at the Hills Hotel, 25205 La Paz Road in Laguna Hills. It will include a technical presentation detailing the restart plan, and opportunities for interaction from the public, according to an NRC release.

Edison was supposed to present its restart plan to the NRC publicly earlier in November at the Doubletree Hotel in Dana Point, but NRC officials postponed the meeting.

Both reactors at the plant have been shuttered since Jan. 31, and the plant announced plans to lay off some 730 workers, estimating it will pay out $30 million in severance pay to those who lost their jobs, according to statements in an earnings press conference. (Edison says the layoffs had been planned before the shutdown.)

Now, Edison wants to restart one of the units -- the less-damaged one -- at partial strength for a reduced operating period, asserting they've taken proper steps to run it safely.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials will have to decide if they agree, however.

The meeting will be webcast live at http://video.nrc.gov. Given the seating capacity of the meeting facility is limited to approximately 400 persons, participation via webcast is encouraged, according to a release from the commission. The video stream will begin about 5 p.m., but the audio stream will not start until the meeting begins.

Parking at the Hills Hotel is free.