The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday denied a request from an environmental group to shut down the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo, California, due to earthquake risks.
Both plant operator Pacific Gas & Electric and environmental group Friends of the Earth claimed a victory in Thursday’s ruling. According to media reports, PG&E asserted that the plant is safe from the threat of earthquakes. Friends of the Earth, in turn, said the 12-page ruling was a “turning point” in what has been a prolonged battle over the plant’s safety related to any potential seismic threat.
The plant sits close to several fault lines. However, the NRC, in its ruling, asked the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to review a question on whether or not the regulatory agency had “granted PG&E greater authority than that provided by its existing licenses, or otherwise altered the terms of PG&E’s existing licenses.”
At issue was whether or not PG&E was concealing risks to the plant from the public.