Tell the Water Board to deny the permits; it’s time to shut down the plant and stop the devastating impacts to the marine environment.
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is in the process of preparing permits to regulate the wastewater discharges by PG&E’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. This is to satisfy the requirements for extended operation.
Enormous detrimental impacts to the marine environment from Diablo’s once-through cooling system and the wastewater discharges are undisputed. Some of the toxins routinely discharged into the ocean include: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, ammonia, benzene, radioactivity, DDT, and more.
Comments are due by 5pm on Monday, Dec 8.
Subject line: “Comment Letter, Diablo Canyon Power Plant NPDES and Certification”
Email your comments to: rb3-npdes@waterboards.ca.gov
or mail to:
NPDES Unit
Central Coast Water Board
895 Aerovista Place, Suite 101
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
More details and resources:
California legislation passed in 2022 allows the California Public Utilities Commission to extend Diablo Canyon’s operations to October 31, 2030 if certain conditions are met. To allow continued operation of the power plant, the Water Board must consider two actions: renewing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and issuing a Clean Water Act section 401 water quality certification.
Tentative Order for NPDES permit
Tentative Order for the Clean Water Act section 401 water quality certification
The hearing on these permits will take place in SLO in February.