August 21, 2025

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WE NEED YOUR HELP: Contact your representatives today and demand a responsible solution for San Onofre’s nuclear waste.

Solutions for San Onofre

San Onofre’s 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste aren’t just a local hazard, they’re a case study in systemic risk. The thin steel canisters holding it are corroding, exposed to earthquakes, and tsunamis, while federal policy offers no long-term solution. Energy companies focus on profit, monitoring is limited, and the risk to nearby communities and ecosystems grows every year.

SLF, in partnership with the Sierra Club, advocates for technically sound, politically feasible solutions: relocate the waste to a geologically stable federal repository, replace aging canisters with resilient alternatives, and establish continuous independent radiation monitoring. Without these measures, the long-term risk to communities, ecosystems, and critical infrastructure remains both foreseeable and preventable.

Long-Term Nuclear Waste Storage

A new MIT-led study makes a big leap in understanding nuclear waste. Using advanced computer models checked against decades of real-world data from Switzerland, scientists have shown that they can reliably predict how radioactive waste interacts with underground barriers like clay and cement over very long timescales.



Safety models are the backbone of any plan for permanent disposal. Right now, San Onofre’s waste has no permanent home, it remains stranded on the beach in a highly vulnerable area. Research like this shows that science can support safe, long-term solutions, and it gives us hope of a solution in the coming future.

Cleanup at Church Rock Mine

The federal government has agreed to spend $63 million cleaning up uranium mining contamination at the Northeast Church Rock Mine on Navajo Nation. The project will move nearly one million cubic yards of radioactive mine waste into containment at the nearby UNC Mill site, a process expected to take more than a decade.



For Navajo communities, this cleanup is both progress and frustration. It addresses one of the most contaminated uranium sites in the U.S., offering some relief from a massive mining dump, but it does so by relocating waste within the same region, leaving long-term risks close to where families live. With more than 500 abandoned uranium mines still scattered across Navajo land, this effort highlights both the scale of the problem and the opportunity to continue developing and funding lasting solutions that can protect future generations.

Water Crisis, Nuclear Power & AI

Europe is feeling the heat, literally. Recent record-breaking temperatures forced 17 of France’s 18 nuclear plants were closed because rivers were too hot to safely cool reactors, while solar energy surged. Paris is bracing for future summers hitting 122°F, with city officials warning of cascading failures, from hospitals to transit, if extreme heat hits.

As climate change accelerates, nuclear plants face a growing vulnerability that fossil fuels and solar largely avoid: water-dependent cooling systems that falter under heat stress. Massive projects like the UK’s Sizewell C nuclear plant, costing over $100B, risk delivering costly power that may be unreliable just when energy is needed most. The long-term lesson is clear: global warming threatens the backbone of energy infrastructure.

The energy intensive process of AI exacerbates the water shortage issue of our already limited supply. Matter of fact, the global water supplies are now threatened by over-mining of aquifers, not only in the US but also around the world in this new study.

Protecting Children's Health

Catalyzed by a network of scientists and advocates including SLF and Eat Real Certified, the coalition has quickly grown into a success. Recent briefings featured Dr. Robert Lustig, Dr. Christopher Palmer, and Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, and our partnership is bringing research into schools and communities.

As the New York Times reports the White House may weaken proposals on pesticides and processed foods, our new funder-led working groups on science, education, and policy will push forward the systemic changes needed to protect children’s health.

P.S. Check out yesterday's FDA warning on radioactive shrimp! Cesium-137 is no joke when protecting our bodies.

Honoring Dan Hirsch

We honor the life and legacy of Daniel Hirsch, founder of the Committee to Bridge the Gap, who passed away on July 19, 2025. For decades, Dan was a tireless advocate for nuclear safety and a leading voice in the fight to protect communities from the dangers of nuclear waste. His work, rooted in integrity and a deep commitment to public health, shaped policy, inspired countless advocates, and strengthened the movement we continue today. As we carry this fight forward, we remember Dan’s courage and dedication, and we are grateful for the path he helped to build.

Paddle Out for San Onofre!

San Clemente State Beach

October 11 | 9:30 AM PT

Bring your board, friends, and family and join us on Saturday, October 11, 2025 for our first Paddle Out for San Onofre, co-hosted with Paddle for Peace. The day will feature sustainable local vendors, live music, and space to connect with environmental justice leaders and frontline voices!

This is a visual stand for coastal protection, calling attention to the 3.6 million pounds of radioactive waste stored just feet from the surf. Let’s come together to protect our coast!

Show Up & Speak Out

Share our message, attend events, and help grow awareness in your community.

Contact Your County Supervisor

Demand stronger oversight of waste storage in your region.

Back Your Local Leadership

Support Larry Agran’s initiative for an independent study to move the waste.

Support Federal Legislation

Back Rep. Mike Levin’s push in Congress for long-term nuclear waste solutions.

Join the Movement!

Partner with SLF in our grassroots campaign for safety and accountability.

Find a template to contact your reps here.

Or email us at admin@samuellawrencefoundation.org to get involved.

SLF is not an anti-nuclear organization. Our community strongly advocates for safe, common-sense containment of spent nuclear waste, with an objective of maintaining the health of our environment and all its inhabitants

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