Experts to talk San Onofre spent nuclear fuel

A variety of experts will convene a public meeting next week to inform residents on how used nuclear fuel from the shuttered San Onofre plant will be stored, Southern California Edison officials announced Tuesday.

The guest speakers will comment on a range of issues from transportation of the used fuel to where to store it.

Speakers at the June 22 meeting will include Allison M. Macfarlane, a former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairwoman, John Kotek of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Jack Edlow, president of Edlow International, a company that transports used nuclear fuel.

“We recognize there is strong community interest in storage of San Onofre’s used nuclear fuel and believe the upcoming (Community Engagement Panel) meeting will provide a robust forum for our neighbors to learn more and ask questions about this important topic,” said Tom Palmisano, Southern California Edison’s chief nuclear officer and vice president of decommissioning.

Palmisano also will provide an update on how the utility is preparing to decommission the San Onofre plant.

The meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion.

–City News Service