Operator at San Onofre, Calif., Nuclear Reactor Fails Drug Test

North County Times, Escondido, Calif. --May 27

SAN ONOFRE, Calif. -- A reactor operator at the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station tested positive in a random drug test Wednesday.

Southern California Edison, majority owner and operator of the nuclear power plant, reported to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the operator was found to be under the influence of an unspecified illegal substance and that his access to all sensitive areas of the plant was terminated.

Ray Golden, Edison's on-site spokesman, said the employee will be disciplined and also will be required to undergo a drug rehabilitation program and intensified drug screening if and when he is allowed to return to work. Golden could not say whether the employee would be allowed to return to his job as a reactor operator.

"It's not certain that this individual will or will not be able to return to the job," Golden said. "If there are any subsequent positive tests, the employee would be terminated."

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