Nuclear plant gets nod to restart amid protests

A federal commission gave final approval Monday to start up the Diablo Canyon reactor as hundreds of antinuclear protesters continued their blockade. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, meeting in Washington, issued a license authorizing Pacific Gas & Electric Company to activate the plant on the central California coast for low-power tests.

As the commission met, the Abalone Alliance, a coalition of 71 antinuclear groups, continued its effrots to block workers from entering or leaving the main gate of the power plant site.

Some 333 were arrested Monday, the San Luis Obispo County sheriff's office reported, bringing to 1,330 the number of arrests.