County accepts emergency planning funds from SONGS

The county's Office of Emergency Services annually receives funding from Southern California Edison to provide for off-site emergency planning involving the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). On July 21, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to accept $1,625,000 in funding from Southern California Edison over a five-year period.

"This is essentially giving us authority to enter into an agreement with them," said Holly Crawford, the director of the county's Office of Emergency Services.

When the SONGS power plants were operating, the funding was distributed to the county through the State of California. Power plant operation ceased in June 2013, so the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have eliminated the requirement for SONGS to fund emergency planning for the off-site jurisdictions and agencies in the Interjurisdictional Planning Committee. Southern California Edison still desires to remain compliant with the legal requirements for an operating nuclear power plant and to pay for off-site emergency planning through 2019.

"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission no longer requires the plant to pay for off-site emergency planning," Crawford said. "They have agreed to continue to pay that."

The Office of Emergency Services, which is part of the Interjurisdictional Planning Committee, receives approximately $325,000 annually which equates to $1,625,000 over five years.

"It will now go directly from the utility to us," Crawford said.

"Southern California Edison has agreed to continue paying us until 2019," said Supervisor Bill Horn.

"We no longer have jurisdiction," Horn said. "Everything that deals with that plant is a federal issue now, not a county issue. The thing we want to do is accept the money."

The Interjurisdictional Planning Committee was formed in 1982 to address emergency planning requirements for San Onofre and consists of representatives from Southern California Edison, the County of San Diego, the County of Orange, California State Parks, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano. The committee integrates emergency plans, coordinates decision-making for activities related to the nuclear power plant, and educates the public.

"Retaining the emergency response capability we have developed over the years is critical," Crawford said.

"I think it is an extremely important issue," said Supervisor Dianne Jacob. "As long as nuclear waste is here at San Onofre there is a risk and there is a need for emergency planning."

The money will provide for a full-time emergency services coordinator along with training activities.

"We must go forward with the agreement that is before us today," Jacob said.

"We're very concerned about this facility," said Supervisor Ron Roberts.

If the radioactive waste has not been transported out of San Diego County by 2019 an extension of the emergency planning agreement is possible. "We can always re-evaluate and negotiate," Crawford said.