Five years ago today, the world witnessed a nuclear disaster unfold in Japan as they got hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami. But it was human error and negligence that led to an ongoing crisis, which after all this time, is still only 10% contained. The propaganda would have us believe that the situation is nearly under control, but the most difficult and dangerous steps will still need to take place over the next few decades. Meanwhile, economic forces continue to push for more reactors to be re-opened, regardless of the justifiable fears of the people and the continuous, unstoppable release of massive amounts of radiation leaking into the environment. 

Unless we succeed in changing the course we are on, a similar fate awaits those of us living near San Onofre and beyond.  The industry and regulators that are supposed to be putting our safety first are all currently under investigation for the gross negligence and misconduct leading to the accidental radiation release and premature shutdown of our nuclear power plant. Porter Ranch and San Bruno serve as recent examples of a corrupt and reckless energy industry as well.

Here is the approved plan that could soon go into effect if we allow it, contrived by the industry to avoid costs and liability. Unlike nuclear waste storage systems used in other countries, our thin containers are known to develop cracking issues in as few as 17 years, (some have been in service for ten of those years already). Making matters worse, they will be buried 100 feet from the ocean, and only inches above the rising sea level, right next to an active fault line!

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?

(The most scary thing is that we predicted the issue that took the plant down in 2012, and I am afraid we are right again)

What can you do to help change the course we are on?

Write to Joseph Street at the California Coastal Commission, ( Joseph.Street@coastal.ca.gov ) to rescind the approved conditional permit to build this nuclear waste site as proposed, (and please copy gary@sanclementegreen.org). That decision is now being challenged in court. Simply ask them to insist on the reasonable requirements that they established in their ruling NOW instead of twenty years from now. 

Here are some excerpts from   a document with all of the details:

The California Coastal Commission granted a Coastal permit for the San Onofre Holtec nuclear waste storage facility with "Special Conditions" that are unlikely or impossible to meet. Special Conditions require a storage system that can be inspected, repaired, maintained, monitored, and transported without cracks - but only after 20 years. The Coastal Commission recognizes the Holtec system does not currently meet these requirements, but have been convinced by Edison and others there are no other reasonable options and someday these problems will all be solved. However, there is insufficient evidence to support that and evidence to the contrary. Edison can meet Coastal requirements with thick casks.  For example, Areva sells thick (over 10" 
thick) metal casks to the U.S. market, and to most of the rest of the world for storage and transport.  
The Areva TN-32 and TN-40 are licensed by the NRC.  The TN-24 used at Fukushima survived the 
massive earthquake and tsunami. Spent fuel must cool in the pools for a few years, so choosing
proven thick storage casks will not significantly delay removing fuel from pools.  

Taking action is the best way I know of to honor the costly lessons learned from Fukushima. I'll never forget that soon after their nuclear disaster, we started hearing from those in Japan that had been directly impacted by that tragedy. They were not asking for help. They were pleading for us to avoid what has happened to them. 

There is no way to undo a nuclear disaster, 

you can only prevent one. 

We've been warned.  The rest is up to us.

Here are links to some very relevant and recent news:

There is a special documentary tonight on KCET at 9:00 PM

The Fukushima Cleanup Will Take Generations

Fukushima: Tokyo was on the brink of nuclear catastrophe, admits former prime minister

Brown's judge friend removed from CPUC case

7 Top NRC Experts Break Ranks to Warn of Critical Danger at Aging Nuke Plants

Nuclear Hotseat - a passionate podcast regarding Fukushima 

Here is a related topic you can   take action on as well, keeping the EPA from allowing much more radiation in our drinking water. Very Flint-like.