June 2013 - Sustainability - list.sfgreens.org

[Sustain] Update: SF CEQA Vote Postponed To Tue, July 9 - We Are On Track To Get Almost All Of What We Demanded (As Long As We Stay Vigilant In July)
by Eric Brooks 25 Jun '13

25 Jun '13

Hi all, The CEQA procedures legislation that was up for a vote at the SF Board of Supervisors today was, as we expected, continued to July 9 for a vote. This means that we have two more weeks to nail down our compromise with Chiu, Planning and the City Attorney; and it gives us the possible ability to get the project modification appeal procedure (which is now trailing legislation designed to give us public appeal hearings on modifications before the Environmental Review Officer) to a vote closer to, or possibly on the same day as, the main legislation. And at the very least, we should now be able to nail down the exact language of that modification appeal procedures text and make sure it is locked in as per our requirements. I'll post updates on the status of the negotiations over both texts as they come in. At this point it looks like we are going to get almost all of the -basic- protections we demanded, and we have stripped out almost all of the bad provisions of Wiener's original, with the exception that the 'first approval' remains the initial appeal trigger - but this is with the firm understanding that in return for accepting the first approval trigger, that the approval itself must be clearly established and publicly noticed, and that we -must- be given the right to appeal subsequent modifications of projects to the Environmental Review Officer. All in all what we've got, if it stays in place, is definitely not perfect, but it is massively better than Wiener's original corporate giveaway monstrosity, and will give us roughly the same protections that we have now, but with a lot of very real and strong public noticing improvements. Important Note: We may still have to do one more big round of public comment and email/phone pushing to get the modification appeal procedure voted forward as it has been agreed to. And there will also be a Planning Commission hearing (and possibly a Historic Preservation hearing) on that measure, within the next month. I'll keep you all posted on next steps. REALLY excellent job, everyone! in solidarity Eric Brooks Campaign Coordinator, Our City 415-756-8844

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[Sustain] Fwd: FW: 19 June Green Action Press Release
by Don Eichelberger 20 Jun '13

20 Jun '13

Japanese NGO's ask some good questions of their Nuclear Regulatory Authority about the safety of Japan's continuing to operate reactors. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: FW: 19 June Green Action Press Release Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:05:01 +0000 From: Mary Olson <maryo(a)nirs.org> To: nirs(a)sanonofre.com <nirs(a)sanonofre.com> I am sure some of you are on the list from Aileen, but I thought I would pass on this item since it is the attention of NGO's after the permanent shut-down of a site on the remaining operating site. CA situation is not identical (thank goodness) but it is parallel. Mary Mary Olson maryo(a)nirs.org NIRS Southeast 828-252-8409 / cell 828-242-5621 -----Original Message----- From: Aileen Mioko Smith [mailto:amsmith@gol.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 2:53 AM To: Aileen Mioko Smith Subject: 19 June Green Action Press Release To fellow colleagues from Aileen Mioko Smith (Green Action, Japan): For immediate release: 19 June 2013 Japan’s Two Operating Reactors won’t meet New Post-Fukushima Standards Will the Nuclear Regulation Authority Still Allow Them to Operate? Attached is the URL of the press release: http://greenaction-japan.org/internal/130619_GA_release.pdf **Notification of a meeting with the government on this issue taking place in Tokyo on Friday, 21 June is at the bottom of this email. Text of press release: Kyoto, Japan----The Nuclear Regulation Authority today approved new post-Fukushima regulatory standards. The standards will now be sent to the Cabinet for approval. They are scheduled to take effect on 8 July. Will the NRA ignore compliance with its new standards from day one by allowing the two currently operating nuclear reactors in Japan, Ohi Units 3 and 4 to continue to operate, thus setting the precedent for further non-compliance? At issue is whether Japan has learned the lessons of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident and whether Japan’s nuclear power will really be “the safest in the world” as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claims. Japanese NGOs yesterday sent questions to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) through a House of Councillors Diet member demanding answers on whether the NRA intends to comply with its own new regulatory standards. The questions are to be answered by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency on Friday, 21 June. (See below for English translation of the questions and time/location of the meeting.) The final results of the review on Ohi Units 3 and 4 concerning whether or not these two operating reactors will be allowed to operate after the new regulatory standards take effect will probably be announced at the weekly NRA meeting on Wednesday, 26 June. It has been reported that the NRA will approve the reactors’ continued operation until their scheduled outage in September. ---- Questions Concerning Compliance of Ohi Units 3 and 4 to New Regulatory Standards The following questions were submitted on 18 June to the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) via the Mizuho Fukushima Diet office by four NGOs. To the Nuclear Regulation Authority: 1. Concerning the conference room located at Units 1 and 2 which is to serve as the earthquake-resistant control room for Ohi Units 3 and 4 The earthquake-resistant control room for Ohi Units 3 and 4 (maximum capacity 1000 persons) to be located on the south side of the intake outlet of the Ohi nuclear power plant site will only become operational in the autumn of 2015. In the meantime, Kansai Electric states that it will use a conference room located at the Unit 1 and 2 site. （１） The conference room at the Unit 1 and 2 site which is to serve as the center for emergency operations in the event of a serious earthquake is located right next to Units 3 and 4. Isn’t this too close to be functional? Is it not correct that the earthquake-resistant control room should be located at some distance from the reactors? （２） The conference room is approximately 105 square meters with capacity for 38 persons. The sole equipment to monitor the state of the Unit 3 and 4 reactors and other equipment under an emergency is one personal computer. Is this sufficient for full emergency response? （３） The earthquake-resistant control room facility is to be completed around the autumn of 2015. Without such a facility in place, Ohi Units 3 and 4 do not meet the requirement under the new regulatory standard. Is that correct? 2. Concerning the Date of Sea-Wall (Tsunami Breakwater) Completion at Ohi Nuclear Power Plant Site The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has stated that completion of a sea-wall (tsunami breakwater) is a prerequisite for applying to restart nuclear power plants. The breakwater for the Ohi site is not scheduled for completion until March 2014. This means the Ohi plant site does not meet the requirement to apply for restart under the new regulatory standard. Is that correct? 3. Concerning the Investigation of the Shattered Zone (Earthquake Fault) Under the Ohi Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulation Authority( NRA) states that nuclear power plant sites currently undergoing investigation of their shattered zones (earthquake faults) are required to have their investigation completed (conclusion reached) before they can apply for permission to restart. The Ohi F-6 shattered zone (earthquake fault) on-site investigation is still on-going and experts undertaking the investigation have not reached a conclusion. Because of this, is it correct that Ohi does not meet the new safety regulation? 4. Concerning Vent with Filter The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) states that for PWR’s, completion of a vent with filter is a prerequisite for applying for restarts. The vent with filter at the Ohi plant will be completed in March of 2016. Because of this, Ohi does not meet the new regulatory standards. Is that correct? 5. Concerning Basic Earthquake Ground Motion The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has sought that Kansai Electric “establish a earthquake motion based on 3 earthquake faults interacting.” However, Kansai Electric continues to use as reference the basic earthquake ground motion based on 2 earthquake faults interacting and stated a 3-earthquake fault analysis was only “just in case.” The utility came out with a new (self-created) category called “earthquake ground motion for the purpose of the review.” Since Kansai Electric refuses to meet the demand of the Nuclear Regulation Authority to establish a basic earthquake ground motion based on a 3-earthquake fault interaction, this means it does not meet the new regulatory standards. Is that correct? 6. The Ohi Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 & 4 do not meet the new regulatory standards, the NRA should therefore require them to be shut down It cannot be said that the Ohi nuclear power plant meets the new regulatory standards when it does not even meet the demands made by the NRA as indicated above. Because of this, should not the NRA demand that the Ohi Nuclear Power Plant site immediately cease operations? ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・ The above questions were submitted by: Green Action Mihama-no-Kai Lawsuit Group to Shut Down the Ohi Nuclear Power Plant The Nuclear Regulation Authority Citizen Watchdog For Japanese original of questions see: http://greenaction-japan.org/internal/130618_question.pdf ---- Meeting With the Nuclear Regulatory Agency Concerning the Ohi Nuclear Power Plant’s New Regulatory Standards Compliance (The meeting will be held in Japanese.) “The Ohi Nuclear Power Plant Site does not Meet New Regulatory Standards. Shut It Down Now!” Date: Friday, 21 June Time: 16:15~17:45 (pre-meeting of citizens begins at 15:45. Media welcome. Room opens at 15:30.) Place: House of Councillors Diet Office Building Room B103 Passes will be issued in the lobby of the House of Councillors Office Building starting at 15:20 Contact: Aileen Mioko Smith Tel: +81-90-3620-9251 Fee: 500 yen (to help support citizens travelling from other areas of Japan.) Meeting organized by Green Action, Mihama-no-Kai, Lawsuit Group to Shut Down the Ohi Nuclear Power Plant, and, The Nuclear Regulation Authority Citizen Watchdog ------------------ Aileen Mioko Smith Executive Director Green Action Suite 103, 22-75 Tanaka Sekiden-cho Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8203 Japan Tel: +81-75-701-7223 Fax: +81-75-702-1952 Cell:+81-90-3620-9251 email: amsmith(a)gol.com URL: http://www.greenaction-japan.org/ http://fukushima.greenaction-japan.org/

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[Sustain] Fwd: Re: San Onofre Closure media coverage
by Don Eichelberger 11 Jun '13

11 Jun '13

I didn't see any San Francisco papers on this list of articles about the permanent shutdown of the San Onofre nuke, and I saw nothing on TV, so I'm breaking the media blockade here. Another nuke bites the dust! Celebrate! Don -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: San Onofre Closure media coverage Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 09:08:13 -0700 From: ben davis <bendavis54(a)gmail.com> To: Roger Herried <rogerh(a)energy-net.org> CC: Summit Group NIRS SONGS <nirs(a)sanonofre.com>, radBULL(a)energy-net.org, "No-New-Nukes-Yall(a)yahoogroups.com" <No-New-Nukes-Yall(a)yahoogroups.com>, nukenet(a)energyjustice.net, downwinders(a)yahoogroups.com Roger, Maybe I've missed it but I don't see this link in your list (http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-onofre-shutdown-20130607,0,…) It was sent to me by a reporter and has a poll in it. Thanks, Ben On Fri, Jun 7, 2013 at 11:27 PM, Roger Herried <rogerh(a)energy-net.org <mailto:rogerh@energy-net.org>> wrote: My goodness! Here's a list of all the media stories on San Onofre's closure! * */Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)/* - Feinstein Statement on Closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station <http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=405c7398…> * */Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA)/* - Markey Hails San Onofre Closure As Win for Safety, Oversight <http://markey.house.gov/press-release/markey-hails-san-onofre-closure-win-s…> * */AFP Google/* - Glitch-hit US nuclear plant shut down for good <http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jv5SCwHtLVDd64P60pwx3VPH…> * */AP/* - Calif. Utility will close Troubled Nuclear Plant <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/calif-utility-says-it-will-retire-nuclear-pl…> - Michael R. Blood * */BBC News/* - San Onofre California nuclear plant to shut <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22820708> * */Bloomberg/* - Edison Faces Regulatory Battle Over San Onofre Shutdown Cost <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-07/edison-plans-to-permanently-close-…> - Mark Chediak &Amp; Jim Polson * */Capistrano Dispatch/* - SONGS to Shut Down <http://www.thecapistranodispatch.com/2013/06/07/southern-california-edison-…> - Andrea Swayne And Jim Shilander * */CounterPunch/* - San Onofre is Dead, the Nuclear Waste Isn't <http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/06/07/san-onofre-is-dead-the-nuclear-waste…> - Ace Hoffman * */Edison International/* - Southern California Edison Announces Plans to Retire San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station <https://www.edison.com/pressroom/pr.asp?id=8143> * */Edison International/* - Southern California Edison to Hold Conference Call On San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station <https://www.edison.com/pressroom/pr.asp?bu=&year=0&id=8144> * */Enformable/* - San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant shutdown in wake of ASLB decision <http://enformable.com/2013/06/san-onofre-nuclear-power-plant-shutdown-in-wa…> - Lucas W Hixson * */ENS/* - California's Damaged San Onofre Nuclear Plant to Be Retired <http://ens-newswire.com/2013/06/07/californias-damaged-san-onofre-nuclear-p…> * */FOE/* - Victory: Edison closes San Onofre for good (updated with press conference) <http://www.foe.org/news/news-releases/2013-06-victory-edison-closes-san-ono…> * */Lompoc Record/* - San Onofre: Gov. says energy plan in the works <http://www.lompocrecord.com/news/state-and-regional/san-onofre-gov-says-ene…> * */Los Angeles Times/* - San Onofre nuclear plant closure tied to finances <http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-onofre-edison-20130607,0,32…> - Abby Sewell * */Los Angeles Times/* - San Onofre neighbors no longer felt safe, welcome closure <http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-san-onofre-neighbors-20130607,0…> - Anh Do * */National Review/* - Another Blow to Our Nuclear-Powered Future <http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/350507/another-blow-our-nuclear-powere…> - Ian Tuttle * */NBC Los Angeles/* - Socal Edison Retiring San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station <http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/San-Onofre-Nuclear-Plant-Closing-Re…> - R. Stickney * */New York Times/* - The End Comes for a Troubled California Nuclear Plant <http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/the-end-of-the-road-for-a-trou…> - Andrew C. Revkin * */NRDC blog/* - NRDC Welcomes Southern California Edison's Decision to Retire the San Onofre Nuclear Plant <http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mmckinzie/today_the_california_utility_c.…> - Matthew Mckinzie * */NukeFree.org/* - San Onofre is Dead & So is Nuclear Power <http://www.nukefree.org/editorsblog/san-onofre-dead-so-nuclear-power> - Harvey Wasserman * */OC Weekly blog/* - San Onofre Nuke Plant Officials Say They Did Nothing Wrong--OH REALLY? <http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2013/06/san_onofre_nuke_plant_officia…> - Nick Schou * */Platts/* - SoCal Ed to retire San Onofre nuclear units, blames NRC delays <http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/21133490> - William Freebairn * */Power Engineering/* - Both nuclear units at SONGS to be retired <http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/06/both-nuclear-units-at-songs-to-be…> * */Reuters/* - UPDATE 4-California's San Onofre nuclear plant to close for good <http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/07/utilities-edisoninternational-san…> - Scott Disavino * */Salon/* - Environmentalists celebrate nuclear plant closing <http://www.salon.com/2013/06/07/environmentalists_celebrate_nuclear_plant_c…> - Gillian Flaccus And Amy Taxin * */SanClemente.Patch/* - San Onofre Plant Closing a 'Seismic Event in the Nuclear Industry' <http://sanclemente.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/san-onofre-plant-closin…> - Adam Townsend * */SanClemente.Patch/* - Major Political, Other Leaders React to Nuke Plant's Closure <http://sanclemente.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/leaders-react-…> - Penny Arévalo * */San Diego Union-Tribune/* - Timeline of San Onofre plant's operations <http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/07/history-san-onofre-power-plant-t…> * */Washington Post/* - California is closing a huge nuclear plant. So what will replace it? <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/07/california-is-lo…> - Brad Plumer * */World Nuclear News/* - Regulatory delay closes San Onofre <http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C_Regulatory_delay_closes_San_Onofre_0706…> -- Roger Herried Abalone Alliance Clearinghouse archivist Energy Net <http://www.energy-net.org>

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[Sustain] CEQA Updates (SF & California) - Area & Regional Plan Exemptions Are Rising Threat To CEQA
by Eric Brooks 07 Jun '13

07 Jun '13

Hi all, SAN FRANCISCO CEQA UPDATE Our local California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) fight in San Francisco is nearing its end and we seem likely to emerge a bit bruised but with the basic essential local CEQA protections we need largely intact IF we continue to send messages to Supervisor David Chiu in the next few days that we insist on an enforceable ability to challenge MODIFICATIONS to projects which take place after the initial CEQA approval appeal window is closed. So if you and/or your organization have not yet sent a letter to that effect to Chiu and the other Supervisors, please do so ASAP so that they are receiving constant pressure from us on this vital point before final decisions are made next week. CALIFORNIA/BAY-AREA CEQA UPDATE The -new- threat to our CEQA protections can essentially be summed up in one developer tactic: Area Plans Both in the Bay Area (through Plan Bay Area Plan aka 'the One Bay Area plan') and through Darrell Steinberg's SB 731 (which just passed the California Senate 39-0 and is likely to reach and be signed into law by the Governor) specific provisions are being made to establish over-arching area plans as mechanisms to exempt projects within those plans from CEQA review. So we will need to refocus our energies to this state/regional area-plan-exemption struggle. These area plan maneuvers present an even more serious threat to us than did the Wiener legislation. CALIFORNIA To see how Steinberg's bill uses this mechanism to attack CEQA review, see point 2 of the commentary at: http://www.cp-dr.com/node/3361 BAY AREA To see how 'Plan Bay Area' plan also badly threatens our CEQA protections through the establishment of area plan exemptions go to: http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/one-bay-area-plan-to-exempt-developers-from… **IMPORTANT! PUBLIC WORKSHOP ON PLAN BAY AREA - JUNE 12, SF LGBT Center** The SF Bay Guardian is holding a public forum on Plan Bay Area on Wednesday June 12, 6-8pm, at the LGBT Center in San Francisco. For details see: https://www.facebook.com/events/521507337913282/ I'll be in touch soon about the next hearing on the SF CEQA ordinance. cheers Eric Brooks Campaign Coordinator, Our City 415-756-8844

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