RWQCB Discharge Permit
The Regional Water Quality Control Board will be holding a public hearing on July 10th regarding the renewal of PG+E's water discharge permit for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The Mothers for Peace, California Earth Corps, and Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo have filed as joint parties in this procedure. The environmental findings in this case have been well documented: thermal (heat) discharges from the plant are causing degradation of the marine environment, and entrainment (death) of fish larvae is significant. The Regional Water Quality Control Board has conditionally agreed to accept the continuation of environmental impacts in exchange for a narrow piece of property and some money (“Consent Judgment”). The Mothers for Peace is opposed to this proposed settlement because: (1) it allows PG+E to rescind the Conservation Easement at its discretion if new environmental requirements should be placed on the company at any time in the future, (2) it “resolves” issued regarding entrainment, impingement, and thermal discharge over its operating life, thus excusing future negative environmental impacts and binding future Boards, (3) it reduces onsite environmental monitoring; (4) PG+E remains in bankruptcy with financial and ownership uncertainty. For more information about nuclear power plant discharge, read "Licensed To Kill" at http://www.noradiation.org/hazards/licensetokill.pdf. Members of the public may provide oral comments on the permit at the hearing on Thursday, July 10, beginning at 8:30am, 895 Aerovista Place, Suite 101, San Luis Obispo. Comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker.