2024-02-10_94_San Onofre_Old Man's Parking Lot Damage.JPG
Diane Edmonds
2024-02-10_94_San Onofre_Old Man's Parking Lot Damage.JPGKing Mid Tide, parking lot collapse after heavy rains
The LA28 Organizing Committee’s recent decision to host the 2028 Olympic surfing competition at Lower Trestles, a renowned surf break located next to the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, has sparked intense public concern. Critics say the venue’s proximity to a high-level radioactive waste storage facility raises serious safety and environmental red flags.
Radioactive Waste Stored Just Yards from the Surf Zone
Just steps from where Olympic athletes are expected to compete, 3.6 million pounds of high-level radioactive waste are stored in thin-walled, welded stainless steel canisters. These canisters sit only a few feet above the water table, raising questions about their long-term safety and environmental impact.
“These canisters were never designed for long-term storage,” said Nadia Khawja, Environmental Justice Programs Director at the Samuel Lawrence Foundation. “They cannot be opened, inspected, or repaired once sealed.”
Melissa Simms -16x9-4.25.24mp4.mp4
Environmental Threats Amplify Concerns
In addition to the questionable design of the storage containers, the site is exposed to a range of environmental hazards, including sea-level rise, seismic activity, and coastal erosion. Khawja noted that no permanent disposal solution exists for the waste and that the area lacks an emergency evacuation plan, factors she says should disqualify the site from hosting any large-scale public event.
2023-12-30_59_SONGS_ Concrete Monoliths for Radioactive Waste Canister
Diane Edmonds
2023-12-30_59_SONGS_ Concrete Monoliths for Radioactive Waste Canisters.JPG
2023-12-30_59_SONGS_ Concrete Monoliths for Radioactive Waste Canister
Diane Edmonds
2023-12-30_59_SONGS_ Concrete Monoliths for Radioactive Waste Canisters.JPG
A Dangerous Precedent for Public Safety
Critics argue that by selecting Lower Trestles, the LA28 committee is not only ignoring the dangers but also normalizing them. Holding an international event so close to a nuclear waste site could lead to a public perception that the risks are negligible or managed, despite evidence to the contrary.
