PG&E is conducting what has been reported as "public workshops" on seismic studies involving the safety of Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, sessions that started on Tuesday, November 29, and will extend through Thursday, December 1, at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo.
But there is one little hitch: there apparently has been no effort to inform the public about the workshops. No press releases were sent to the media about the workshops, a PG&E spokesperson said. And there appears to be no mention of the workshops at PG&E's main website on the Diablo Canyon plant at Diablo Canyon - PGE. Nor any other PG&E site.
The one article published about the workshops (PGE to Discuss Seismic Hazards) says, "A complete description of the seismic hazards update is available at Diablo Canyon - PGE." But it is not easily found. It is impossible to identify the source of the information in the article because there is no attribution—to PG&E or anyone else.
The article states that the three workshop sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day, Tuesday through Thursday. A public question-and-answer session is slated from 6 to 7 p.m. after each session, it says.
However, one source who asked not to be identified said he/she received this about the workshop (note it is called a "public" workshop but those who receive the invitation are called "resource experts," a term that is not defined):
Subject: Public Workshop on the Diablo Canyon Long Term Seismic Program Seismic Hazard Update, November 29 - December 1
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:36:27 +0000
Dear Resource Experts:
Enclosed for your information is the current agenda for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) seismic hazard update workshop held at the Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo on November 29 through December 1, 2011. The DCPP seismic hazard update will follow the Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee (SSHAC) methodology. As a Resource Expert, you are required to be present on the day of your presentation or discussion participation. If your schedule permits, you are welcome to stay the duration of the workshop. If you cannot attend, please respond accordingly.PG&E thanks you very much for your participation on this very important project.
Kind Regards,
Kent Ferre, SE
(415) 973-5291Project ManagerGeosciences Department
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The following was attached. (See original: SSHAC Org Chart.pdf )
Nowhere on the PG&E websites or in the information provided by PG&E about the seismic studies is the fact mentioned that the studies are required by Assembly Bill 1632, approved by the California Legislature, and signed into law in 2006 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Absent that information, the clear impression conveyed by PG&E is that the corporation is conducting the studies voluntarily.
