San Onofre domes to be gone by late 2027, report says

The iconic containment domes at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station are expected to be fully demolished by the end of 2027. This milestone marks the final physical removal of the structures that have stood just south of San Clemente for decades.

A report from the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Levin details the federal push to find a permanent home for the facility's spent nuclear fuel. The document outlines current funding levels, the progress of the demolition process, and potential pathways for relocating the material. Officials state that clearing the site is a priority due to rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

Rep. Levin announced the demolition schedule during a press conference held at the site on Wednesday. He confirmed that crews will begin taking down the domes in the coming months. While he noted there is no immediate danger to the community, he emphasized that the site was never designed to hold spent fuel indefinitely.

Southern California Edison President and CEO Steve Powell addressed the environmental risks associated with the location. He acknowledged that the plant was built with hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and rising seas in mind. Powell stated that the canisters holding the fuel are engineered to withstand extreme conditions, but he agreed that permanent removal is the end goal.

The U.S. Department of Energy has identified five states as potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. These facilities, announced in July, are designed to support the full nuclear fuel lifecycle. This includes fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing, and the final disposition of used nuclear fuel.

Logistical solutions for transport are also advancing. Rep. Levin pointed to the Atlas railcar system as a new method for moving spent fuel. He described it as the first system built to safely transport the material through existing commercial rail lines.

Federal leaders estimate that major decommissioning work across the San Onofre site will be completed by the end of 2028. This timeline follows the removal of the containment structures and precedes the full clearance of the land.