Campaign for Onofre nuclear plant cleanup launched

Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen last week sent letters to mayors of every Orange County city encouraging them to gather signatures from residents who want the spent fuel at the closed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station removed as soon as possible.

In addition, Laguna Beach residents mailed more than 500 signed letters to agencies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, said Rita Conn, chairwoman of the community group Let Laguna Vote, who organized the petition drive.

“We’re trying to raise a collective consciousness,” said Conn, who also sent letters to President Obama, Gov. Jerry Brown and Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein.

The City Council in December approved a resolution that urges the Department of Energy to identify a permanent disposal site for the used nuclear fuel as required by the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, while moving the radioactive fuel to an interim location.

For more information or to volunteer to collect signatures, visit letlagunavote.com.

—Bryce Alderton

Twitter: @AldertonBryce