PG&E California Fault Line Blasting Plan Draws Environmental Criticism
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Pacific Gas and Electric, owner of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant near Morro Bay, plans to map the underwater fault lines to determine their risk to the plant, but environmentalists claim that could kill countless fish.
The California Coastal Commission was set to vote Wednesday on whether to let PG&E conduct sound wave blasting tests in order to create 3-D maps of the fault line on the ocean floor, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.
The 250 decibel blasts can penetrate miles below the surface, but also disorient and potentially kill wildlife in the area.
PG&E has said it will monitor for marine mammals wandering into the area, and halt testing until the test zone is clear.
Commission staff has recommended that the proposal be rejected, according to the Chronicle.
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