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San Onofre: the Nuclear Plant in LA's Backyard
In Dana Point tonight, the public will get a chance to sound off on the nuclear generating plant at San Onofre. The reactors under those two big domes on Interstate 5 in Orange County were shut down in January after a steam leak revealed unexpected problems with thousands of tubes. SoCal Edison says it'll be safe to re-start one plant at 70 percent of power for five months. But some local residents are thinking about earthquakes, evacuations routes and Fukushima. We get a preview of tonight's meeting. Also, Soviet nuclear weapons were America's worst nightmare during the Cold War and — 50 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis — some remnants remain. We hear about air raid sirens in Los Angeles. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, Iran, the economy and the bomb.
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenIn Dana Point tonight, the public will get a chance to sound off on the nuclear generating plant at San Onofre. The reactors under those two big domes on Interstate 5 in Orange County were shut down in January after a steam leak revealed unexpected problems with thousands of tubes. SoCal Edison says it'll be safe to re-start one plant at 70 percent of power for five months. But some local residents are thinking about earthquakes, evacuations routes and Fukushima. We get a preview of tonight's meeting. Also, Soviet nuclear weapons were America's worst nightmare during the Cold War and — 50 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis — some remnants remain. We hear about air raid sirens in Los Angeles. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, Iran, the economy and the bomb.
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In this episode
3 storiesSan Onofre: the Nuclear Plant in LA's Backyard
Southern California Edison's website calls the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 's two reactors the region's "largest and most reliable sources of electricity." Not any more.
Read the story20 min50 Years Later, Cold War Sirens Remain in LA
During the Cold War, there were more than 200 civil defense sirens in Los Angeles to sound the alarm in case of a nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. The system was never used, but portions of it are still with us. Saul Gonzalez reports on those Cold War relics.
Read the story6 minIran: the Economy and the Bomb
The prospect for a military strike against Iran's nuclear program is now part of the presidential campaign. In yesterday's foreign policy speech, Mitt Romney said the US should side with Israel when it comes to the "red line" for action against Iran's nuclear program. President Obama has said it should be an actual nuclear weapon.
Read the story25 min
