SAN CLEMENTE : Edison Presses for New Onofre Hearing

The Southern California Edison Co. has taken aim at state coastal planners for declining to reopen the debate on how the company must compensate for marine life damaged by the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

In a letter Monday, Edison asked the California Coastal Commission to have a hearing on the company’s request to scale back the mitigation plan ordered by the panel in 1991.

New research merits taking a fresh look at how much mitigation is really needed, say Edison officials, who have criticized what they term the unrealistic and costly expectations of coastal planners.

“Staff’s attempt to prevent the commission from hearing new, important information, is fundamentally contrary to the commission’s regulations, the law, and the common-sense principle that applicants are entitled to a hearing when circumstances are changed,” Edison officials wrote the commission.

Commission Executive Director Peter Douglas already has ruled against such a hearing, saying that Edison should have to abide by the 1991 plan and that “a deal is a deal.”

The Coastal Commission, meeting Wednesday at the Wyndham Hotel in Los Angeles, will have a public hearing on whether to uphold Douglas’ ruling.

A 15-year study found that the nuclear plant south of San Clemente had sharply reduced the size of a nearby kelp bed, and that its huge cooling system sucks up and kills millions of fish, eggs and larvae each year.

In response, the 1991 mitigation plan calls for Edison to build a 300-acre artificial kelp reef, restore wetlands and make plant changes.

Now, citing new research, Edison wants to build a 12-acre kelp reef. And while the commission staff currently monitors the plan’s effectiveness, Edison wants the power to monitor itself--a power it says is allotted most other companies.

“Why treat San Onofre differently?” asked Michael Hertel, Edison manager of environmental affairs, who added that Edison remains committed to mitigating whatever damage the plant may cause.