Testing and Protesting

After eight years of delays, the expenditure of $4.9 billion and the arrest of more than 3,000 protesters, the controversial Diablo Canyon nuclear plant last week started low-power testing. But within six hours of operation, plant engineers noticed that a stuck valve had begun channeling nonradioactive water into a holding tank instead of into the reactor's cooling system. Ten minutes after the discovery, however, the valve was closed, and testing continued. "We expect events like this to take place," said George Sarkisian, a spokesman for Pacific Gas & Electric, which operates the plant. "It's all part of the low-power testing process."

Opponents have been demonstrating at Diablo Canyon for 16 years, and last week they were there again. About 130 demonstrators showed up for start-up day, and five were arrested.

Problems have plagued Diablo Canyon for years. Soon after construction began, geologists discovered that the plant was being built near the Hosgri fault line. Their findings prompted an overhaul of its structural design. In 1976 P G & E had to replace miles of copper tubing when scientists found that sea life near the plant had been killed by toxic runoff from its piping. Then in 1981 construction came to a halt because some blueprints were discovered to have been reversed.

Diablo Canyon engineers hope that all the troubles are now behind them. The plant will continue testing at no more than 5% capacity until next fall, when it should begin producing nuclear power. Opponents say that their next move is to stop the facility from ever becoming fully operational.