Senator Boxer said: "When Southern California Edison decided to completely replace their steam generators in order to increase their profit margin, they failed to apply for an amended license as they are required to do and NRC stood by and did nothing. The IG was correct to highlight the statement of the former NRC Regional Administrator who said that based on information revealed on the conditions of the San Onofre plant ‘the steam generators as designed were basically unlicensable' and would not have been approved."
Senator Boxer initiated an investigation into nuclear safety at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station following the January 2012 shut down of the reactors that was caused by a leak of radioactive water from one of its newly replaced steam generators, which were shown to have experienced unusual levels of damage. The IG's report corroborates the findings to date of Senator Boxer's investigation. Senator Boxer plans to hold an NRC oversight hearing in December.