Mothers for Peace
Encyclopedia
San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (SLOMFP) is a participant in the anti-nuclear movement in California
which is depicted in the anti-nuclear Dark Circle
for its activity in the early years of protests against the Diablo Canyon Power Plant
(DCPP). DCPP was the first nuclear power plant to have its license suspended, which resulted from disclosure that they installed safety systems incorrectly, and in the film Mothers for Peace takes credit for delays which prevented the plant from going online prior to the discovery of the errors.
, SLOMFP has expressed heightened concern about Diablo Canyon earthquake vulnerability
. The primary current roles of SLOMFP consists of a website, outreach efforts of Jane Swanson, the current spokesperson, fundraising, and litigation. Discovery of a new earthquake fault near DCPP re-energized the anti-nuclear movement in San Luis Obispo county, and Swanson travelled to Santa Barbara and took part in a forum at the Faulkner Gallery of the Central Library on June 30, 2011. The meeting was attended by Supervisor Janet Wolf and co-hosted by the Nuclear Ages Peace Foundation and the Santa Barbara chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
. SLOMFP was traumatized by an alleged embezzlement of $31,000 by their former treasurer, who was prosecuted and appeared in SLO criminal court in November for pre-trial procedures. Despite this, and its history of civil disobedience, SLOMFP contends that it possesses security clearances such that the NRC should grant it access to information on terrorism vulnerabilities of DCPP with respect to nuclear spent fuel storage. Swanson frequently discusses various forms of vulnerability, specifically challenging the adequacy of the no-fly zone policies putatively in place over Diablo. For instance, in an interview with KCSB's radio journalist Cathy Murrillo, Swanson contends that according to the FAA it is not a no-fly zone but merely a pilot advisory not to loiter. She frequently cites outside experts such as the Union of Concerned Scientists
or the National Academy of Science.
The SLOMFP litigation claims that:
Seismic studies of the newly discovered fault are due to be done in 2013.
SLOMFP contends that those reports must be complete before any calls are made regarding earthquake risks.
identify and correct current problems, despite elaborate measures undertaken
by PG&E as documented on public TV hearings at which SLOMFP members posed numerous questions.
SLOMFP claims that aging effects (corrosion, degradation) will defeat the engineers.
fuel pool accidents, and is thus in violation of NEPA (the National Environmental Policy Act).
Anti-nuclear movement in California
The 1970s proved to be a pivotal period for the anti-nuclear movement in California. Opposition to nuclear power in California coincided with the growth of the country's environmental movement...
which is depicted in the anti-nuclear Dark Circle
for its activity in the early years of protests against the Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Diablo Canyon Power Plant is an electricity-generating nuclear power plant at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. The plant has two Westinghouse-designed 4-loop pressurized-water nuclear reactors operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. The facility is located on about in Avila Beach,...
(DCPP). DCPP was the first nuclear power plant to have its license suspended, which resulted from disclosure that they installed safety systems incorrectly, and in the film Mothers for Peace takes credit for delays which prevented the plant from going online prior to the discovery of the errors.
Current activities
Interest in issues with which SLOMFP contend have received considerable heightened public interest subsequent to the Fukushima nuclear accidents. With discovery of the Shoreline FaultShoreline Fault
Shoreline Fault is a 25 km long vertical strike-slip fault discovered in 2008 that lies less than a mile from the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California...
, SLOMFP has expressed heightened concern about Diablo Canyon earthquake vulnerability
Diablo Canyon earthquake vulnerability
Diablo Canyon Power Plant, located on the water's edge in San Luis Obispo County California, was originally designed to withstand a 6.75 magnitude earthquake from four faults, including the nearby San Andreas and Hosgri faults, but was later upgraded to withstand a 7.5 magnitude quake...
. The primary current roles of SLOMFP consists of a website, outreach efforts of Jane Swanson, the current spokesperson, fundraising, and litigation. Discovery of a new earthquake fault near DCPP re-energized the anti-nuclear movement in San Luis Obispo county, and Swanson travelled to Santa Barbara and took part in a forum at the Faulkner Gallery of the Central Library on June 30, 2011. The meeting was attended by Supervisor Janet Wolf and co-hosted by the Nuclear Ages Peace Foundation and the Santa Barbara chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was established in the United States in January 1915 as the Woman's Peace Party...
. SLOMFP was traumatized by an alleged embezzlement of $31,000 by their former treasurer, who was prosecuted and appeared in SLO criminal court in November for pre-trial procedures. Despite this, and its history of civil disobedience, SLOMFP contends that it possesses security clearances such that the NRC should grant it access to information on terrorism vulnerabilities of DCPP with respect to nuclear spent fuel storage. Swanson frequently discusses various forms of vulnerability, specifically challenging the adequacy of the no-fly zone policies putatively in place over Diablo. For instance, in an interview with KCSB's radio journalist Cathy Murrillo, Swanson contends that according to the FAA it is not a no-fly zone but merely a pilot advisory not to loiter. She frequently cites outside experts such as the Union of Concerned Scientists
Union of Concerned Scientists
The Union of Concerned Scientists is a nonprofit science advocacy group based in the United States. The UCS membership includes many private citizens in addition to professional scientists. James J...
or the National Academy of Science.
Litigation
The SLOMFP commenced litigation of five contentions of which four were accepted to proceed. The litigation before the Atomic Safety Licensing Board has been placed on hold as of the Order of June 7, 2011. This delay has no bearing on the merits but has been proclaimed as a victory by anti-nuclear activists even though it had originally been requested by Pacific Gas & Electric. The primary coordinator of the litigation is Elizabeth Apfelberg, who is also Treasurer, whom their website bills as a "lay attorney". Apfelberg has been with SLOMFP since 1973. They also employ attorney Diane Curran. Swanson was quoted by an environmentally oriented online journalist as summarizing their intent as follows: “Our goal, with the services of our attorney in Washington D.C., Diane Curran, is to ensure that safety issues pertaining to both the reactors and the radioactive wastes at Diablo Canyon are fully studied before the NRC considers PG&E’s application for license renewal.”Four contentions
The SLOMFP litigation claims that:
- PG&E ‘s application lacks crucial information on the seismic risks to Diablo.
Seismic studies of the newly discovered fault are due to be done in 2013.
SLOMFP contends that those reports must be complete before any calls are made regarding earthquake risks.
- PG&E has an “adverse trend” of chronic errors in the management and cannot
identify and correct current problems, despite elaborate measures undertaken
by PG&E as documented on public TV hearings at which SLOMFP members posed numerous questions.
SLOMFP claims that aging effects (corrosion, degradation) will defeat the engineers.
- PG&E is not dealing with airborne environmental impacts of potential spent
fuel pool accidents, and is thus in violation of NEPA (the National Environmental Policy Act).
See also
- Abalone AllianceAbalone allianceThe Abalone Alliance was a nonviolent civil disobedience group formed to shut down the Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Diablo Canyon Power Plant near San Luis Obispo on the central California coast in the United States...
- Diablo Canyon Power PlantDiablo Canyon Power PlantDiablo Canyon Power Plant is an electricity-generating nuclear power plant at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. The plant has two Westinghouse-designed 4-loop pressurized-water nuclear reactors operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. The facility is located on about in Avila Beach,...
- Alliance for Nuclear ResponsibilityAlliance for Nuclear ResponsibilityAlliance for Nuclear Responsibility is a non-profit public interest organization founded in 2005, and based in San Luis Obispo, California. It is focused on public citizen activism and public participation with regard to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which some people also call the Diablo Canyon...
- Dark Circle (film)
- San Onofre Nuclear Generating StationSan Onofre Nuclear Generating StationThe San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power plant located on the Pacific coast of California. The site is in the northwestern corner of San Diego County, south of San Clemente, and surrounded by the San Onofre State Park and next to the I-5 Highway.Unit 1 is no longer in service...