Who We Are
The Samuel Lawrence Foundation advocates for public safety and environmental stewardship at San Onofre and beyond, while fostering meaningful human connection through expanded access to science, education, and the arts.
Over 8 million
Californians Live Within 50 miles of Stored Radioactive Waste
3 million Pounds of Nuclear Waste Near San Onofre Beach
Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA) joins Lawrence O'Donnell to discuss the environmental crisis at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, where over 3 million pounds of radioactive waste sit just 100 feet from the coastline. He stresses the urgent need to relocate this waste away from high-risk areas to protect nearby communities and the environment.
Nuclear Expert Slams Edison's San Onofre Nuclear Waste Storage Plan
Talks continue to find a storage site for radioactive waste away from San Onofre nuclear power plant. Unless there’s an agreement, millions of pounds of the toxic material will be partially buried near the shoreline at San Onofre.
San Onofre Nuclear Waste Problems Report (2019)
Thomas English PhD, Subrata Chakraborty PhD, Len Hering Sr. RADM USN
The most serious issues concerning the storage of nuclear waste at S.O.N.G.S. include the damage done to the waste canisters when lowered into the storage vault. These 54-ton thin-walled steel canisters are loaded with nuclear waste and are transported to the on-site concrete storage vault.
In the News
"Olympic Surfing Comes to America's Largest Nuclear Waste Dump"
James Burke, Surfer Magazine, reports:
Lower Trestles is hosting surfing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics; just down the beach is 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste
"The Supreme Court Just Issues a Ruling on Nuclear Waste. What does that mean for San Onofre?"
Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union Tribune, reports:
A place to perhaps store at least some of the 3.55 million pounds of waste sitting at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station remains in play after a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court — but plenty of hurdles loom before the spent fuel ever gets moved off the beach.
"Is Health and Human Services Blocking Cancer Study?"
Cancer is the #2 killer in the US in 2023 per the CDC, and over 100 million Americans live near nuclear plants.
It recently came to light that the US Department of Health and Human Services declined to conduct a study of cancer around nuclear plants, even though Congress appropriated the money for it last year and directed HHS to carry it out. First the NRC and now HHS have blocked such studies for over a decade.
Federal Roundtable on Potential Health Effects Among Individuals Residing Near Nuclear Power Plants
February 14, 2023; 10 AM to 1 PM ET
Meeting Summary
Do Emissions from Nuclear Power Plants Cause Cancer?
Roger Johnson, PhD
Professor Emeritus, San Clemente, CA
What We're Known For...
The Samuel Lawrence Foundation connects local and international environmental groups to address the most pressing issues facing our nation and the world.
Whether advocating for safer storage of nuclear waste, teaching about environmental hazards, or promoting environmental justice, we encourage collaboration and innovation.
Our work is possible thanks to the continued support of our sponsors:
