Background
The history of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Coastal Development Permit (CDP) began in December 1973 when the new California Coastal Zone Conservation Commission, now called the California Coastal Commission (CCC) denied SCE a permit to construct Units 2 and 3 at SONGS.
The CCC based its decision, in part, on nuclear safety matters that were within the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As a result, in February 1974, the CCC reversed its decision and approved the SONGS permit with the condition that SCE fund formation of an independent, three-member Marine Review Committee (MRC). The Commission directed the MRC to predict and monitor the effects of SONGS on the marine environment and recommend mitigation measures for any impacts. The MRC studies lasted from 1974 through 1989, at a cost to the SONGS owners and electric utility ratepayers of $48 million.
In 1983, SONGS Unit 2 began commercial operation; Unit 3 followed in 1984. In 1989, the MRC submitted its final report to the CCC. As a result, the CCC amended the SONGS Coastal Development Permit (the CCC’s CDP # 6-81-330-A, formally 183-73) to require 150 acres of wetlands restoration, 300 acres of kelp reef construction, fish protection improvement studies, and the funding of staff and technical experts. Spending by the MRC continued as it supported CCC staff and began to wind down its operations, which ended in December 1993.
In 1993 and 1997, the CCC additionally required SCE to provide $4.8 million ($1.2 million in 1993 and $3.6 million in 1997) and San Diego Gas & Electric to provide a site for the Hubbs Sea World white sea bass hatchery in Carlsbad. This is now part of the State’s Ocean Resource Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP), and SCE has fully satisfied these requirements.
In 1995, the SONGS' owners presented scientific findings indicating less impact than originally predicted by the MRC had occurred on the San Onofre kelp bed. To review and verify SCE's findings, CCC staff chose another independent panel of experts. In 1996 the panel verified the SCE findings and concurred that the impact of SONGS on kelp was "much less" than originally predicted by the MRC.
Consequently, in 1997 the CCC reduced the kelp reef mitigation requirement from 300 acres to 150 acres. In addition, the CCC reconfirmed San Dieguito Lagoon as the preferred site for the wetland restoration project and agreed to an adjustment in the required acreage from 150 acres to 127 acres since SCE agreed to keep the San Dieguito River inlet to the ocean open in perpetuity. The CCC also required that SCE fund independent monitoring of the wetlands and kelp reef projects by the Commission staff. This monitoring is currently (2010-2011) costing SCE $2 million annually.
In 1997, the CCC approved SCE's preliminary plan for the wetlands restoration at San Dieguito Lagoon. Based on that plan, the San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space Park Joint Powers Authority (JPA) prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project. After months of public input and revision, the EIR was certified by the JPA on September 15, 2000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working with the JPA as joint state/federal lead agencies, similarly adopted the EIR.
In September 1999, SCE completed construction of the 22.4-acre Experimental Kelp Reef offshore of San Clemente. The reef consists of 56 test modules using quarry rocks and recycled concrete. The five-year CCC study of the kelp reef test modules (1999-2004) showed that all rock treatments/bottom-coverages, placement locations, and substrate types (both quarry rock and concrete) would successfully fulfill the ecological performance criteria, for kelp recruitment and development of a kelp forest community including fish and invertebrates for the mitigation kelp reef.
