NRC seeks public comment on Diablo Canyon draft environmental report

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is asking for public comment on its draft supplemental environmental impact statement for Diablo Canyon's license renewal request.

The draft report contains the NRC staff's evaluation and preliminary conclusion that there are no environmental impacts precluding license renewal for an additional 20 years of operation. The agency posted notice of the comment period-which runs through December 16-and scheduled two public sessions this month to share more information about the process.

Upcoming sessions: At two upcoming meetings, NRC staff will describe the environmental review process and accept comments from the public.

• A webinar is scheduled for November 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (PST).
• An in-person meeting will be held on November 20, 6:00-9:00 p.m. (PST) at the Courtyard San Luis Obispo, 1605 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Members of the public can also submit comments on the draft report three other ways:

• Visit regulations.gov and search Docket ID NRC-2023-0192.
• Email [email protected].
• Send mail to Office of Administration, Mail Stop TWFN-7-A60M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001.

The background: Diablo Canyon is California's only remaining operational nuclear plant. The 2,200-MWe nuclear facility generates about 9 percent of the state's total electricity and accounts for 17 percent of California's zero-carbon energy.

Diablo Canyon's two units came on line in 1985 and 1987, respectively, and each is seeking a 20-year license renewal.

Pacific Gas & Electric had been preparing to shutter Diablo Canyon by 2025, but a group of lawmakers and nuclear supporters pushed to keep the plant on line to preserve grid reliability. In December 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission granted a five-year license extension, which allows PG&E to operate Unit 1 until October 31, 2029, and Unit 2 until Oct. 31, 2030, while the NRC considers the 20-year extensions for the reactors.

Opponents of the plant say PG&E and the NRC have ignored risks Diablo Canyon presents to the environment and the public, citing the plant's age and proximity to seismic fault lines.