San Diego, CA – December 10, 2025 - Yesterday, the Irvine City Council voted against Mayor Agran’s resolution to find solutions for the deadly nuclear waste at San Onofre. The Samuel Lawrence Foundation is disappointed with the Council’s vote, which neglects a pressing issue with profound consequences. 

“San Onofre is a ticking time bomb, and the worst poison the planet must be moved,” said Bart Ziegler, President and Founder of the Samuel Lawrence Foundation. “Instead of pursuing proactive, forward-thinking governance, the Council has fallen backwards. Their choice to wait for someone else on this vital issue places our lives, communities, oceans, and economy at risk.”

3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste sits in thin metal canisters on fragile bluffs just 100 feet from rising seas. Mayor Agran called for a planning team to develop solutions. This would have been a critical step toward improving the safety of 9 million people, and safeguarding the beaches, oceans, and economy of Southern California.