Levin unveils strategy to relocate spent fuel at San Onofre nuclear plant

[Marlin]

Levin unveils strategy to relocate spent fuel at San Onofre nuclear plant

https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2026/10/28/levin-unveils-strategy-to-relocate-spent-fuel-at-san-onofre-nuclear-plant

[Core Content]

Waves crash against rocks near the sea wall protecting the spent nuclear waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Oct. 28, 2026.

Representative Mike Levin released a legislative strategy to relocate 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel currently stored at the decommissioned San Onofre site. The proposal introduces regional Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses to handle fuel processing and encourages host states to store waste. It also relies on the newly certified Atlas Railcar System for secure transport, addressing long-term coastal erosion concerns raised by local officials.

Yucca Mountain in Nevada was originally slated to serve as the nation's permanent repository, but opposition from state officials and local residents halted the project.

While the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is no longer operating and its decommissioning is nearly complete, roughly 3.6 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel remain stored along the coastline.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, D-Oceanside, released a report on the ongoing push to relocate the nuclear waste to a permanent site as rising sea levels and coastal erosion raise concerns about its current location.

Read the full article at KPBS Public Media:
https://www.kpbs.org/news/science-technology/2026/10/28/levin-unveils-strategy-to-relocate-spent-fuel-at-san-onofre-nuclear-plant