August 20, 2026

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Stay informed about nuclear waste risks on our coastline

The San Onofre Symposium is TODAY!

The San Onofre Symposium: Nuclear Waste to Clean Energy takes place today at the Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla, and the full agenda is now available here.

Take a look at what's ahead. Sessions run from morning through late afternoon, covering spent fuel storage at San Onofre, federal policy, and the path to clean energy alternatives. Speakers include former NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko, Congressmen Mike Levin and Scott Peters, and Stanford's Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson. Doors open at 8:30 AM.

If you can't join us in person, the full program will be recorded and posted online after the event. We'll share the link in a follow-up email and on our website.

Thank You to Our Symposium Sponsors!

Today's symposium is possible because of the generosity of our sponsors, and we want to recognize them with gratitude.

Our deepest thanks to our Gold Sponsor, the Westreich Family Foundation, whose continued partnership strengthens every part of this work.

Thank you to our Silver Sponsors: the Walter Munk Foundation, Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS) x2, the Sierra Club San Diego Chapter, and Marianne McDonald.

Thank you to our Bronze Sponsors: Terragrit, Hudson Elliot, Bridgett McDonald, and Blue Eyed Girl.

And thank you to our In-Kind Sponsors, whose contributions help make the day run smoothly: Jimbo's, Lazy Acres, Patagonia, YourWavePics, and United Nations Association San Diego.

Each of these supporters shares our commitment to a safe coastline and a clean energy future. We are grateful to have them alongside us today.

SLF Working on Legislation

to Move Waste

In 1982, the federal government promised to take possession of spent nuclear fuel from the nation's power plants. It never did. Today, waste remains stranded at dozens of shuttered plant sites — including San Onofre — in facilities that were never designed for long-term storage.

The Samuel Lawrence Foundation is working on an amendment to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to finally move this waste. The amendment would:

• Unlock the Nuclear Waste Fund to pay for safe transportation
• Require community involvement at every step
• Hold the proposed Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses accountable: if they can't demonstrate safe transport and storage, they don't move forward

No industry handouts, just a pathway to make good on a 44-year-old federal promise. Unlike past proposals, this amendment ties funding and site approval to proven safety performance, so progress depends on results, not promises. SLF will continue to update the community on progress of the bill.

Tell the NRC:

Don't Weaken Radiation Protections

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to change the rules that protect people from radiation. The proposed changes would let nuclear facilities release more radiation before having to report it to the government, allow some workers to receive double the current yearly radiation dose, and weaken the long-standing principle that radiation exposure should be kept as low as reasonably achievable. The Samuel Lawrence Foundation encourages you to speak up and ask the NRC to keep strong protections and put public health first. Every comment is read by NRC staff and becomes part of the official record. Submit before August 31.

Our Billboards Are Up

Across San Diego!

In partnership with SaveArtSpace, seven billboards designed by artists are now up across San Diego, carrying our message about San Onofre's nuclear waste. We asked the artists what art can do and what inspired their work.

They told us art reaches people in ways words sometimes cannot. It makes people stop, see a familiar issue in a new way, and feel something. Public art does this especially well because it meets people where they already are and starts conversations in everyday places.

Their pieces come from growing up alongside the coastline and watching it change. Each artist wanted viewers to pause, consider the impact we are having on the ocean, and recognize that these problems reach all of us. If you are in the San Diego area, find a billboard, snap a photo, and tag us on Instagram @SLFCommunity (locations here).



Thank you to Ava Park, Maxwell Sagermann, Sofia Kim, Sheila Darcey, and Ruth Westreich, and to SaveArtSpace and Bow Seat for making this possible.

Selected Students from Hope to Hazard Art Challenge to Speak at Symposium

Congratulations to the selected students of our Student Arts Challenge, "From Hazard to Hope: Arts in Action": Darlene Manongdo and Bettina Mogelvang.

Darlene, a student at San Diego State University, created a piece that confronts the health risks of living near the San Onofre nuclear plant, focusing on what radiation exposure from nuclear waste can do to eyesight, from fatigue and cataracts to blindness, a reminder that a day near San Onofre carries hidden risks.



Bettina, a rising senior at the University of San Diego, created Fire Extinguisher, a mixed media work contrasting incinerated paper with a lush painted landscape inspired by her father's childhood home on the Danish island of Mors, where wind turbines power daily life. Her piece asks whether we will let our planet burn or turn to renewable alternatives.

Both artists will speak about their work at the San Onofre Symposium today at Scripps Seaside Forum at 3 PM PT.

Staff Spotlight:

Nadia Khawja, Director of Programs

Something about me that's not in my bio: I teach hot yoga sculpt part-time, and have a 8-month-old black lab/ rottweiler named Bear!

Most memorable trip: Norway. This June, I had the opportunity to represent SLF at the Oslo Freedom Forum, where I learned about the intersectionality of human rights and environmental justice.

Favorite Song: Silver Jubilee by Audrey Hobert

Favorite SLF memory: Our 3.6K! Last June, we hosted a run for the 3.6 million pounds of waste, and hundreds of people showed up. It was an incredible gathering of the community.

Something fun I did this month: I was interviewed by the Living Canvas Foundation about our upcoming Symposium, Student Art Challenge, and SLF as a whole.

San Diego Climate Week: October 1-8

San Diego Climate Week returns October 1 through 8, and the Samuel Lawrence Foundation is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of the Water Summit alongside WILDCOAST. The week opens with a paddle out, followed by a full day focused on the water issues shaping our region. We will also be hosting our own San Onofre event during Climate Week. Follow us on Instagram for updates and details!

Volunteer with us!

We are gearing up for the rest of the year and we're looking for people to join us. We need volunteers in San Clemente to represent the foundation's goal of moving the waste off the coastline. We are also looking for volunteers to table at events, help with our August Symposium at Scripps Seaside Forum, and support our youth education and art programs. There's a role for everyone. Reach out and let's get to work.

Stay on top of NRC rulemakings

The NRC is rewriting its regulations at a pace not seen in decades, and each proposed rule has a public comment period. Comments become part of the official record, and the agency must respond to them. Bookmark the NRC's Documents for Comment page to catch future dockets. We'll flag the ones that matter for San Onofre in every newsletter.

Attend the San Onofre Symposium (August 20)

Join scientists, policymakers, and community leaders at Scripps Seaside Forum for a full day on nuclear waste and the clean energy transition. Register here.

Tell Congress to pass the Nuclear Waste Administration Act

Rep. Mike Levin's bipartisan bill would create an independent agency dedicated to managing the nation's nuclear waste, with consent-based siting and reliable funding. Ask your representatives to cosponsor. Template here.

Contact Your County Supervisor

San Diego and Orange County supervisors co-chair the Spent Fuel Solutions coalition. Tell them to keep San Onofre at the top of the agenda. Find yours here.

Volunteer With Us

Join us at tabling events, the symposium, and beyond. Sign up below.

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