San Diego Gas and Electric, Sundesert Nuclear Power Plant Collection MS-0211
Ellen Jarosz
Special Collections & University Archives
12/15/2006
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego, CA 92182-8050
askscua@sdsu.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: San Diego Gas and Electric, Sundesert Nuclear Power Plant Collection
Creator:
San Diego Gas and Electric
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0211
Physical Description:
10.17 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1974-1980
Date (bulk): 1976-1977
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Contents
The
Sundesert Nuclear Power Plant Collection documents SDG&E's attempt to build the Sundesert nuclear power facility, as well as the California State Resources Conservation
and Development Commission's actions in response to that proposal. The collection dates from 1974-1980, with the bulk of documents
generated in 1976 and 1977, the months and years immediately following the plant's formal proposal. The collection consists
of legal documents, state and federal government records, correspondence, and research files. It has been divided into three
major series:
State and Local Government Records,
Federal Government Records, and
Research and Development Files and Publications.
The
State and Local Government Records document the intense interaction between the Sundesert Project and the state of California, primarily via the California
State Resources Conservation and Development Commission, chaired by Richard L. Maullin. Documents in this series consist of
reports, notices of intention, correspondence, subpoenas, legal briefs, official statements, and petitions produced both before
and during the state's official review of SDG&E's Sundesert proposal, dating between 1976 and 1978. Major subjects covered
include the proposed plant's capacity, its environmental impacts, the legal ramifications of its construction, the inner workings
of the Commission, and its interaction both with SDG&E and with many of the communities potentially affected by the plant's
construction. This series is labeled by date and filed chronologically.
The
Federal Government Records document the somewhat limited role of the federal government throughout the plant proposal period, particularly of the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission. Documents in this series consist of relevant excerpts from the
Federal Register, standard review plans, reports, evaluations, and site reviews for several potential sites produced both before and after
the formal proposal for plant construction, between 1974-78. This series is labeled by date and field chronologically.
The
Research and Development Files and Publications document the preparation work that SDG&E completed before formally filing its application with the California State Energy
Commission. It includes published and unpublished reports generated both by SDG&E and by the Stone & Webster Engineering Corporation,
Econometric Research Associates, and the Economic Sciences Corporation, all organizations hried by SDG&E to assist in early
research and development. Records in this series were produced between 1976 and 77. They are labeled by date and filed chronologically.
Arrangement Note
I. State and Local Government Records, 1976-78
II. Federal Government Records, 1974-78
III. Research and Development Files and Publications, 1976-77
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
Source of Acquisition
Unknown
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, folder title, box number, San Diego Gas and Electric, Sundesert Nuclear Power Plant Collection, Special
Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.
Historical Note
The 1970s proved a pivotal period in California's history with nuclear power. The climate between nuclear power advocates
and environmentalists was confrontational. While voters failed to pass a 1972 proposal placing a 5-year moratorium on nuclear
plant construction, conservation and environmental groups worked throughout the decade to stop construction of several proposed
plants, especially along the coast and near fault lines.
In 1975, Jerry Brown replaced Ronald Reagan as California's governor, and the California Committee for Nuclear Safeguards
qualified Proposition 15 for the state ballot. This stringent proposition, which ultimately failed at the polls, would have
prohibited licenses for any new power plants until public 'proof' of an effective radioactive waste disposal system was discovered.
In 1976, just before this measure failed at the polls, Governor Brown passed three nuclear safeguard laws; one of which included
the provision that the Resources Conservation and Development Commission of California and the Legislature determine at lease
one method of disposing of radioactive waste material safely. Most utilities supported the laws in an attempt to ward off
Proposition 15.
In 1972, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) began planning a new nuclear energy facility for southern California. In 1975, the
year before California's new safeguard laws were enacted, they purchased land for the plant, approximately 16 miles southwest
of Blythe and 10 miles from the Colorado River. On February 17, 1976, SDG&E filed a notice of intent with the state's Resources
Conservation and Development Commission to build the Sundesert Nuclear Plant (SNP). The proposal was the first submitted
to California's new "one step" approval system, implemented in 1974.
SNP would provide electric power to customers within the service areas of SDG&E, who held a 50% interest in the project. The
California Department of Water Resources, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the cities of Anaheim, Glendale, Pasadena,
and Riverside also held interest in the project. The proposed plant would consist of two 950-megawatt nuclear generators,
the first scheduled to go into service in 1985, and the second in 1988.
The need for the plant was almost immediately disputed, as well as its negative environmental impact, as its proposed creation
encountered resistance from citizens, local governments, and state-wide government agencies. Several environmental issues
were raised, in addition to the problem of nuclear waste disposal, including the presence of nearby fault lines.
While the state's Legislative Counsel argued that California's new nuclear safeguard laws unconstitutionally infringed upon
the federal government's regulation of nuclear plant hazards, the SNP sought out legislative immunity to the new regulations.
In mid-1977 Assemblyman Alister McAlister authored a bill that would potentially exempt SNP from California's 'de facto' ban
on new atomic factory construction.
In December the state Resources Conservation and Development Commission, who's members had all been appointed by Governor
Brown, gave preliminary approval to the proposed $3 billion Sundesert project, but cut the plant's size in half and saddled
it with numerous restrictions. The following month the same commission released a report that concluded all nuclear power
plants were not safe because of their inability to dispose of radioactive waste. They urged the state legislature not to exempt
SNP from the safeguard laws not because of any particular flaw or problem in the proposal, but because of waste disposal problems
inherent to any and all nuclear energy facilities.
In January 1978, the California Senate voted 21 to 10 to exempt SNP from the state's nuclear safety laws, but the Democrat-controlled
Assembly committee ultimately rejected the exemption due to persistent concerns regarding the potential dangers in storing
nuclear waste. This decision marked the end of the Sundesert Nuclear Power project and was seen as a major turning point in
the state's energy policy.
In 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments regarding California's moratorium on new nuclear plant construction;
Pacific Gas & Electric v. State Energy Resources Conservation & Development Commission. This was a direct challenge to the 1976 statue that prohibited construction of new nuclear plants in the state until adequate
storage facilities and means of disposal for nuclear waste were determined.
Two California utilities and the federal government argued that the Atomic Energy Act gives the United States Nuclear Regulatory
Commission sole authority to regulate nuclear power plant construction and operation. Interestingly, the Court sided with
the state of California based on economic and land use issues, rather then on protection from radiological hazards, stating
that while the federal government oversees health and safety matters, the states may regulate nuclear power on an economic
basis.
Accruals
1979-010
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Environmentalism
Environmental law--California.
Nuclear regulation--California.
Organizational Records
Nuclear energy--California
Nuclear energy--Law and legislation--California
Nuclear power plants--California, Southern
Environmental impact analysis--California, Southern
Environmental law--California
Environmentalism--California, Southern
San Diego Gas and Electric Company--Archives
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
State and Local Government Records Series 1
1976-78
box 1, folder 5
ca. June - August Folder 5
1976
box 1, folder 6
September 1-10 Folder 6
1976
box 2, folder 1
September 10-30 Folder 1
1976
box 2, folder 2
September 10-30 Folder 2
1976
box 2, folder 3
September 10-30 Folder 3
1976
box 2, folder 4
September 10-30 Folder 4
1976
box 2, folder 5
October 4-18 Folder 5
1976
box 3, folder 1
October 18-31 Folder 1
1976
box 3, folder 2
October 18-31 Folder 2
1976
box 3, folder 3
October 18-31 Folder 3
1976
box 3, folder 4
October 18-31 Folder 4
1976
box 3, folder 5
October 18-31 Folder 5
1976
box 4, folder 1
ca. October Folder 1
1976
box 4, folder 2
November 1-11 Folder 2
1976
box 4, folder 3
November 1-11 Folder 3
1976
box 4, folder 4
November 1-11 Folder 4
1976
box 4, folder 5
November 1-11 Folder 5
1976
box 5, folder 1
November 11-December 6 Folder 1
1976
box 5, folder 2
November 11-December 6 Folder 2
1976
box 5, folder 3
November 11-December 6 Folder 3
1976
box 5, folder 4
November 11-December 6 Folder 4
1976
box 5, folder 5
November 11-December 6 Folder 5
1976
box 6, folder 1
December 6-14 Folder 1
1976
box 6, folder 2
December 6-14 Folder 2
1976
box 6, folder 3
December 6-14 Folder 3
1976
box 6, folder 4
December 6-14 Folder 4
1976
box 6, folder 5
December 6-14 Folder 5
1976
box 7, folder 1
December 15-31 Folder 1
1976
box 7, folder 2
December 15-31 Folder 2
1976
box 7, folder 3
December 15-31 Folder 3
1976
box 8, folder 1
February 2-7 Folder 1
1977
box 8, folder 2
February 2-7 Folder 2
1977
box 8, folder 3
February 2-7 Folder 3
1977
box 8, folder 4
February 8, 1977 Folder 4
box 8, folder 5
February 8, 1977 Folder 5
box 9, folder 1
February 8-24 Folder 1
1977
box 9, folder 2
February 8-24 Folder 2
1977
box 9, folder 3
February 25 - March 31, 1977 Folder 3
box 9, folder 4
February 25 - March 31, 1977 Folder 4
box 9, folder 5
ca. March - April 14 Folder 5
1977
box 10, folder 1
April 14-25 Folder 1
1977
box 10, folder 2
April 14-25 Folder 2
1977
box 10, folder 3
April 14-25 Folder 3
1977
box 16, folder 1
June 27 - July 7 Folder 1
1977
box 16, folder 2
June 27 - July 7 Folder 2
1977
box 16, folder 3
June 27 - July 7 Folder 3
1977
box 16, folder 4
June 27 - July 7 Folder 4
1977
box 16, folder 5
June 27 - July 7 Folder 5
1977
box 16, folder 6
June 27 - July 7 Folder 6
1977
box 17, folder 1
July 7 - August 5 Folder 1
1977
box 17, folder 2
July 7 - August 5 Folder 2
1977
box 17, folder 3
July 7 - August 5 Folder 3
1977
box 17, folder 4
July 7 - August 5 Folder 4
1977
box 17, folder 5
July 7 - August 5 Folder 5
1977
box 17, folder 6
July 7 - August 5 Folder 6
1977
box 18, folder 1
August 5, 1977 - ca. 1977 Folder 1
box 18, folder 2
August 5, 1977 - ca. 1977 Folder 2
box 18, folder 3
August 5, 1977 - ca. 1977 Folder 3
box 18, folder 4
August 5, 1977 - ca. 1977 Folder 4
box 18, folder 5
August 5, 1977 - ca. 1977 Folder 5
Federal Government Documents Series 2
1974-78
box 19, folder 4
February 5 - October 11 Folder 4
1976
box 20, folder 1
June 1 - ca. Folder 1
1977
box 20, folder 3
Volume 1, October Folder 3
1978
box 20, folder 4
Volume 2, October Folder 4
1978
box 21, folder 1
October 1974 - October 1975 Folder 1
box 21, folder 2
October 1974 - October 1975 Folder 2
box 23, folder 1
Volume 3, October Folder 1
1978
box 22
Research and Development Files and Publications Series 3
1976-77
box 22, folder 1
October, 1976 - April Folder 1
1977
box 22, folder 2
October, 1976 - April Folder 2
1977
box 22, folder 3
October, 1976 - April Folder 3
1977
