Diablo Canyon Power Plant Decommissioning Project

Project Specifications

Client: San Luis Obispo County

Location: San Luis Obispo County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Air Quality & Climate Services, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Public Participation & Involvement, Client Support

Under contract with the County of San Luis Obispo, Planning and Building Department (County), Aspen is assisting the County with application review, environmental review, and support with multi-agency coordination for the decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP), a nuclear energy power plant off the coast of San Luis Obispo County. PG&E proposes to decommission (withdraw from service and make inoperative) and dismantle (break apart, decontaminate, and remove) much of the existing DCPP.

The Proposed Project considered in the EIR includes three sites: (1) the DCPP site; (2) the Pismo Beach Railyard; and (3) the Santa Maria Valley Railyard Facility at Betteravia Industrial Park and would occur in two phases: (1) Phase 1: Pre-planning and Decommissioning Project Activities (2024 – 2031), and (2) Phase 2: Completion of Soil Remediation, Final Status Surveys (FSS), and Final Site Restoration (2032 – 2039). The structure of the EIR was paramount in providing clear and complete analysis of the impacts of each phase at each individual site while considering the whole of the action. These impacts included aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, and noise, to name a few. Summary tables were developed to provide the breakdown of impacts, allowing the public to more accurately and quickly digest information to understand what the key impacts are and where they are happening.

This project is highly controversial and required extensive coordination with resource agencies, Native American groups (AB 52 consultation), and the surrounding residential communities. Aspen has been providing extensive AB 52 support and, during the scoping period, conducted five virtual meetings.