California's coastal regulators rejected Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s plan to map offshore earthquake faults near a nuclear power plant with the use of loud air cannons because of the potential detrimental effects to marine life.

The vote was a unanimous one by the California Costal Commission and was reached after a long public hearing attended by environmentalists, fishermen and residents -- the majority of whom opposed the seismic testing.

The technology involves blasting sonic pulses into the ocean to create a 3-D map of geologic faults that the utility said are essential to understanding the potential hazards the Diablo Canyon facility could face.

"If you live near a nuclear plant, wouldn't you want more certainty in the assumptions that are being made?" asked PG&E's director of state agency relations, Mark Krausse. The company released a statement expressing its disappointment in the decision.

In a report this month, the commission staff said the seismic sound blasts could cause "significant and unavoidable impacts to marine resources" with more than 7,000 sea mammals being disturbed.

The utility said the impact on animals would be short-term and that similar research has been done worldwide. Several commissioners said they would be unlikely to change their minds on the case if the company reapplied for a permit (AP/Fuel Fix, Nov. 15). -- HP