Japan Meltdown Risk Stirs Fears Over SoCal Nuclear Plants
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The safety of Southern California's two nuclear power plants are facing increased scrutiny in the wake of the catastrophic quake that has left Japanese nuclear officials scrambling to ward off a widespread meltdown.
KNX 1070's John Brooks reports that despite being located on the coastline in a tsunami zone and near earthquake faults, plant operators say there's no immediate threat to the state.
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The two-reactor Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo and Southern California Edison's twin-reactor San Onofre plant are pressurized water reactors.
Diablo Canyon was built to withstand a 7.5 magnitude quake, while Edison's Gil Alexander says San Onofre could handle a magnitude 7.0 temblor and a 30-foot-high tsunami.
However, there are already calls for a moratorium on new nuclear plants until federal procedures for nuclear emergencies are ironed out.
Officials also want a review of existing procedures to keep reactors cool in the event that both the power grid and backup systems fail.
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