Capps Continues Work to Slow Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Relicensing, Protect Constituents' Safety

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Lois Capps (CA-23) reiterated her call to ensure the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) does not move forward with the relicensing effort currently underway at the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant until advanced, peer-reviewed seismic studies of the area are completed by offering an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. The amendment would have prohibited the issuance of a draft environmental review for the license renewal. It failed on a largely party line vote of 152 to 269. Video of Capps' floor statement is available here.

"The safety of my constituents continues to be my number one priority, and that's why I offered this straightforward amendment to ensure the NRC does not move forward with the relicensing effort currently underway at Diablo Canyon until advanced, peer-reviewed seismic studies of the area are completed and the findings are shared with the NRC," said Capps. "Virtually all of the decisions that will be made about the relicensing of this plant could be affected by what PG&E's seismic studies tell us in the coming years. The cart is clearly being put before the horse and we need to rectify this going forward."

Capps added, "Diablo Canyon provides over three million people in California with affordable electricity, it provides many good paying jobs, and it's an important element of the tax base in San Luis Obispo County. But this amendment was about safety and we all agree that safety must be everyone's number one concern. In the weeks and months ahead I'll be doing everything possible to ensure this is the case."

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