HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-119 - in Support of the Action for Spent Fuel Now CoalitionRESOLUTION NO. 2021-119
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT OF
THE ACTION FOR SPENT FUEL NOW COALITION
WHEREAS, the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station ("SONGS") is a retired
commercial nuclear power plant located approximately 30 miles from the City of Newport
Beach ("City");
WHEREAS, SONGS has been in the decommissioning process since 2013 and
as of August 2020, all spent nuclear fuel has been packaged in stainless steel canisters
that are designed for both storage and transportation; however, the spent nuclear fuel
remains onsite;
WHEREAS, the federal government has not assumed title to, liability for, or
transported the spent fuel at SONGS, as it was required to do beginning in 1998 under
the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, Pub. L. No. 97-425 (Jan. 7, 1983), 96 Stat. 2201
(codified as amended at 42 U.S.C. ch. 108 § 10101 et seq.) and by contract;
WHEREAS, nearly $41 billion (including interest income) has been paid into the
Nuclear Waste Fund managed by the U.S. Department of Energy, including almost $1
billion from SONGS customers;
WHEREAS, the lack of a national policy prevents removal of the spent fuel from
SONGS, impeding the full decommissioning of the plant and restoration of the site;
WHEREAS, the SONGS Strategic Plan, developed by a team of independent
national experts, recommends the formation of a coalition of stakeholders to spur federal
action aimed at removing spent fuel from SONGS;
WHEREAS, interim and long-term offsite storage options are important to enhance
the health, safety and security, of residents and businesses located in Orange County;
and
WHEREAS, "Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now" is a coalition of local
governments, utilities, business organizations, labor leaders, Native American leaders,
environmental groups, and other community members with the goal of encouraging the
federal government to provide offsite storage and/or permanent disposal solutions for
spent nuclear fuel.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Resolution No. 2021-119
Page 2 of 2
Section 1: The City Council does hereby support the efforts of Action for Spent
Fuel Solutions Now to relocate spent nuclear fuel away from SONGS and the California
coastline.
Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the operative part of this resolution.
Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not
affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each section,
subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to
the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the
activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378)
of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3,
because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or
indirectly.
Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution.
ADOPTED this 30th day of November, 2021.
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ATTEST: N�Wl�p
Leilani I. Brown
City Clerk
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APPROVED AS TO FORM: °KNi
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ATTORNEY'S 714
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C. Harp
City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE ss.
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
I, Leilani I. Brown, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify that the
whole number of members of the City Council is seven; the foregoing resolution, being Resolution
No. 2021-119 was duly introduced before and adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular
meeting of said Council held on the 30th day of November, 2021; and the same was so passed and
adopted by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Mayor Brad Avery, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon, Council Member Noah Blom,
Council Member Joy Brenner, Council Member Diane Dixon, Council Member
Duffy Duffield, Council Member Will O'Neill
NAYS: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of
said City this 1St day of December, 2021.
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Leilani I. Brown
City Clerk
Newport Beach, California