SoCal Edison Crews Hauling Toxic Waste From Nuclear Power Plant On Freeways
SAN ONOFRE (CBSLA.com) — Food, gas, furniture, clothing ... you name it, it moves along the freeway.
But starting Sunday evening, something not rarely seen on our -- or any -- freeway for that matter, will begin traveling on Southland freeways.
That "thing"? Toxic waste from the San Onofre nuclear power plant.
The exact route is not being revealed but officials say the waste -- actually parts of a former generator -- is going to travel through San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties on its way to a disposal site in Utah.
And if you are keeping score at home, this isn't some small, insignificant, tiny bit of waste. The haul in question is a 797,000-pound piece of "slightly radioactive" steel. It will move rather glacially taking about three weeks to reach its destination. The piece of steel is along as a football field and 17-feet high.
It will be hard to miss, but it won't pose any danger to the public.
Authorities say the waste contains very little radiation. In a statement, they wrote, "The exposure that a person could receive standing five-to-ten feet away from the transports for an hour would be equivalent to a dental x-ray."
Rachel Kim, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, previewed the move. SoCal's Scott Andersen added, that the move should be of no concern to anyone worried about radiation: "There is no measurable radiation as we go through communities on our way to Utah."
The toxic material will only travel at night in California. Caltrans and CHP will accompany the convoy through the state.
