Emission and Waste Disposal
Emissions
An elaborate and comprehensive monitoring system is in place to measure levels of radioactivity in the air, soil, beach, plants and water surrounding the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Because of safeguards used at SONGS, only the natural background radiation already present in the environment has been detected.
Waste Disposal
Two distinct types of waste which require special handling and disposal are produced at San Onofre, low-level and high-level radioactive waste.
Low-level wastes typically contain small amounts of radioactivity similar to those produced by medical procedures. Examples of such waste materials include items such as towels, gloves and tools used by workers, and water purification filtering materials.
High-level waste is the solid spent, or used, uranium fuel rods. Disposal of used fuel requires long term, high-reliability isolation from the environment.
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