Orange County congressman forms new task force targeting San Onofre nuclear issues

Signaling that the nation’s nuclear paralysis will be a priority for him, newly elected U.S. Rep. Mike Levin has formed a task force on safety challenges at the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

Leading the panel will be Gregory Jaczko, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and retired Navy Rear Adm. Leendert “Len” Hering Sr., Levin’s office said on Friday, Jan. 25. Locals also will have a seat at the table, and Levin said the group will meet regularly “with the goal of driving solutions to move and safely store sensitive waste located at SONGS.”

“We cannot allow the status quo to continue indefinitely,” said Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, in a statement. Levin was elected in November to replace outgoing Rep. Darrell Issa.

It’s unclear how Levin’s panel will work with — and differ from — the volunteer Community Engagement Panel that has been advising Southern California Edison on San Onofre’s tear-down since 2014.

Edison said it welcomes Levin’s interest in the issues, shares his desire to move spent fuel from San Onofre to an interim or permanent storage site as soon as possible, and hopes that he works with the CEP “to accelerate national efforts to approve and complete spent fuel storage alternatives,” it said in a statement.