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PG&E details safety, spent-fuel storage and land-conservation plans for Diablo Canyon
Summary
PG&E officials updated the public on plant performance, long-term seismic and vessel monitoring, spent-fuel storage capacity (stated as sufficient for ~60 years), and a Coastal Commission conservation framework that would transfer roughly 6,000 acres and expand public trails across Diablo lands.
PG&E presented a technical and stewardship update covering operations, inspections, seismic programs and planned land transitions.
Maureen Zawalek, PG&E senior vice president and chief risk officer, highlighted the plant’s high capacity factors and continuous inspection programs, including visual and ultrasonic reactor-vessel testing performed every refueling outage and an ongoing capsule Bravo evaluation. “We recently just evaluated a material from the reactor vessel... it has been determined again that Diablo Canyon is safe to operate... at least 2045,” Zawalek said. She also noted that two NRC resident inspectors conduct thousands of inspection hours annually and that the Diablo Canyon Independent Safety Committee (DCISC) performs independent reviews and public meetings.
Tom Jones, PG&E senior director for regulatory, environmental and repurposing, summarized stewardship of about 12,000 acres and 14 miles of coast: a Coastal Commission-led conservation framework would make roughly 6,000 northern acres available for transfer to government entities within an 18-month decision window, with tribes or NGOs as secondary successors if governments decline. Jones said Wild Cherry Canyon (~2,200 acres) is moving toward permanent conservation and that PG&E is pursuing trail easements, a primitive mid-route campground and safety improvements at the plant access gate; he said easements and related trail improvements could be recorded this year and that PG&E expects successor entities to operate trails after transfer.
PG&E officials also addressed spent-fuel storage and seismic study work: they stated onsite storage capacity would support roughly 60 years of operations and described ongoing long-term seismic and embrittlement monitoring required by operating licenses. The company framed these measures as part of a broader regulatory and stewardship pathway tied to state and federal approvals.
