Edison Paid $9,000 Fine for Sewage Plant Violations

Southern California Edison has paid a $9,000 fine because its sewage treatment plant at the San Onofre nuclear power station violated water-quality standards last fall, said officials at the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The sewage plant, which serves the nuclear plant complex, treats about 11,000 gallons of sewage each day then discharges treated sewage into the ocean. Water regulators on Dec. 27 issued a complaint alleging what they termed three serious violations stemming from an apparent plant malfunction.

For three days, the plant’s discharge exceeded limits for certain solids. A water board official said there is no evidence the discharge harmed ocean water quality.

Plant spokesman Ray Golden said beefed up staffing at the plant caused the problem. A nuclear reactor was being refueled, meaning the normal 2,000 workers on site were supplemented with about 1,500 extra workers. He said an analysis showed the violations were not caused by more sewage, but by a sharp increase in the amount of water used, which overwhelmed the sewage plant.

The public has until March 5 to comment on the settlement payment, and can contact the water board by calling Daniel Phares at (858) 627-3928 or e-mailing phard@rb9.swrcb.ca.gov.