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HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Future Items Consideration - CorrespondenceReceived After Agenda Printed November 16, 2021 f'"%ACTION FOR SPENT FUEL S0LUT10NS NOIR www.spentfuelsolutionsnow.com November 12, 2021 The Honorable Brad Avery Mayor City of Newport Beach 100 Civic Center Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660 Dear Mayor Avery and Honorable Councilmembers, We are writing in support of your proposed resolution to join Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now (ASFSN) as a Supporting Member. ASFSN is a new coalition of local governments, utilities, environmental groups, labor leaders, Native American leaders, business organizations and other community members. The coalition was formed in March of this year to support the relocation of spent nuclear fuel currently stored at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) to a federally licensed offsite storage or disposal facility. We urge you to pass the resolution and join the Orange County Board of Supervisors, San Diego County Board of Supervisors, City of San Clemente and more than 170 other members. Joining the coalition as a Supporting Member does not obligate the city to any further action, but it will help demonstrate strong local support to address this important issue. ASFSN's singular purpose is to encourage the federal government fulfill its obligation to provide offsite storage or permanent disposal solutions for the spent nuclear fuel at SONGS and other nuclear sites across the state and nation. Although SONGS was retired in 2013 and decommissioning work is currently underway, the spent fuel must be removed from our coastline to complete the decommissioning, restore the land and return it to the Navy. The federal government was required by law to begin picking up and disposing of spent fuel back in 1998; however, we are still waiting for that to happen more than two decades later. Meanwhile, other countries have made significant progress toward finding offsite solutions. Finland has successfully identified a location to dispose of its spent nuclear fuel through a consent -based process, and countries such as Canada, France and Sweden are not far behind. Achieving similar success here in the United States is undoubtedly possible, and an unprecedented window of opportunity appears to be opening at the federal level. The House and Senate passed appropriations bills that provide nearly $28 million in funding for 2022 activities related to spent fuel storage, including consent -based siting. In addition, the Department of Energy has indicated it plans to launch a process for consent -based siting in the near future. Closer to home, Congressman Mike Levin announced the formation of a bipartisan Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus along with Congressman Rodney Davis of Illinois. These developments underscore the need for Orange County stakeholders to speak with a unified voice and advocate on this important issue. That is one reason why ASFSN has grown considerably over the last few months, building bipartisan support across the region. We are now poised to play a meaningful role in future discussions regarding legislation and appropriations that allow for the removal of spent fuel from the Southern California coastline. We believe joining our coalition is the best way for the City of Newport Beach to support Congressional efforts to open a consent -based, permanent national repository for the disposal of the nation's nuclear waste. Voting in favor of today's resolution will further enable us to work together to ensure spent fuel is ultimately removed from the coastline so the SONGS decommissioning can be completed, and the site restored. We urge you to support this important mission by joining ASFSN as a Supporting Member. Thank you very much for your consideration. Sincerely, Lisa Bartlett Co -Chair Supervisor, Fifth District County of Orange 4im Desmond Co -Chair Supervisor, Fifth District San Diego County CC: The Honorable Diane B. Dixon, District 1— Council Member The Honorable Duffy Duffield, District 3 — Council Member The Honorable Kevin Muldoon, District 4 — Mayor Pro Tem The Honorable Noah Blom, District 5 — Council Member The Honorable Joy Brenner, District 6 — Council Member The Honorable Will O'Neill, District 7 — Council Member Mulvey, Jennifer From: Rieff, Kim Sent: November 17, 20217:14 AM To: Mulvey, Jennifer Subject: FW: Oppose New Offshore Oil Drilling From: Leslie Manderscheid <Imande@sbcglobal.net> Sent: November 16, 202112:06 AM To: Dept - City Council <CityCouncil@newportbeachca.gov> Cc: chair@newportbeach.surfrider.org Subject: Oppose New Offshore Oil Drilling [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Newport Beach City Council Members As a member of the Surfrider Association and resident, I urge Council will vote on a resolution to ban offshore drilling before the City Council for a vote at the December 14th meeting. Please join our adjacent cities in being proactive to protect our ocean and wildlife. The recent oil spill shut down our beaches and harbor, killed wildlife, and harmed our coastal businesses. There still recent reports of oil and tar washing up on our beach. We need to take a stand to protect Newport Beach's coastline, our economy, and our way of life. Your constituents are counting on you to use every means to prevent an oil spill from happening off our coast again Thank you in advance. Leslie Manderscheid PO Box 10684 Newport Beach, CA 92658