Safe storage of radioactive waste and timely, safe removal of the waste to a remote location were concerns expressed Wednesday about a plan to dismantle the retired San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.

The California State Lands Commission held a public hearing at San Clemente High School, inviting people to share in person or in writing the concerns they want to see addressed in an upcoming environmental report. Several dozen people turned out, and four spoke.

Cynthia Herzog, the commission's senior environmental scientist, said people can submit written comments to the commission until Aug. 15.

Tom Palmisano, Southern California Edison's chief nuclear officer at San Onofre, described a plan to remove the power plant and restore the site by the year 2051, sending spent nuclear fuel away from San Onofre by 2049.

"The goal is to complete decommissioning in a safe, timely, cost-effective manner," he said of the $4 billion project.

Donna Gilmore of San Clemente was skeptical of the project's timing and safety, especially the efforts to move spent fuel.

"I don't think it would be a conservative assumption," she said, "to assume anybody is going to want to take this stuff."

Gilmore suggested that the fuel canisters Edison has selected for on-site storage are subject to cracking and can't be transported once they crack. She asked for the impact report to look into it.

Wednesday's hearing followed one the commission held Tuesday in Oceanside, drawing a similar public turnout.

Cy Oggins, the commission's division chief for environmental planning, said eight speakers in Oceanside raised questions ranging from emergency response to storage of the radioactive waste.

"Somebody wanted it moved to the governor's backyard," Oggins said.

More public meetings will be scheduled in the two cities, likely next spring or summer, to solicit comments once the first-draft environmental report is published, officials said. Later, the Lands Commission will hold its own public hearing to consider certifying that the environmental review complies with the California Environmental Quality Act.

Requests for the environmental report to analyze any particular impacts, mitigation strategies or alternatives can be sent to CE QAcomments@slc.ca.gov or mailed to
Cynthia Herzog, California State Lands Commission, 100 Howe Ave., Suite 100-South, Sacramento 95825.