POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsTimes of San DiegoAugust 17, 2026San Diego

Experts and lawmakers to discuss long-term storage of nuclear waste at San Onofre

Federal lawmakers and nuclear experts are convening a forum to address the ongoing storage of millions of pounds of spent nuclear fuel at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The event aims to explore potential solutions for radioactive waste management in the absence of a permanent national repository.

nuclear wasteSan Onofreenergy policyenvironmental safety
Read the full story at Times of San Diego

Why It Matters

The San Onofre plant currently stores 3.6 million pounds of on-site, which will remain in the region for decades due to the lack of a federal permanent disposal site.

Key Facts

  • The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station currently holds 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel.
  • Most of the old nuclear plant is expected to be demolished by 2028.
  • Spent fuel was transferred to underground dry storage containers in 2020 after five years in cooling pools.
  • In 2018, a container became misaligned during installation, which the NRC classified as a 'near-miss' incident.
  • The U.S. currently lacks a permanent national repository for commercial spent nuclear fuel.
  • More than 80 sites across the U.S. are currently storing nuclear waste temporarily.
  • The 'Nuclear Waste to Clean Energy' forum is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Scripps Seaside Forum.

Who's Mentioned

personGreg Jaczko“Former Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”personJames Day“Oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.”personMark Jacobson“Energy researcher at Stanford University.”organizationSan Onofre Nuclear Generating Station“The site of the nuclear waste storage.”organizationNuclear Regulatory Commission“Federal agency that regulates nuclear safety.”organizationSamuel Lawrence Foundation“Organizer of the forum.”personScott Peters“U.S. Congressman participating in the forum.”locationScripps Institution of Oceanography“Host location for the forum.”personMike Levin“U.S. Congressman participating in the forum.”