Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Closing Ahead of Schedule

Clean Water Action release the following statement in regards to the early closure of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township, New Jersey:

The news that the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township will close ahead of schedule in October, 2018 is hardly surprising given the myriad of safety and technical problems that have arisen over the years.

The immediate and crucial public safety issue is a complete decommissioning of the plant that would prioritize transfer of the highly radioactive spent fuel rods out of the overhead pool and into hardened dry cask storage. That waste, which will remain radioactive for tens of thousands of years, is not going anywhere anytime soon. There is over 750 metric tons of highly radioactive waste on site.

“Exelon should not be allowed to shut the door and leave their filthy, deadly garbage behind,” said Janet Tauro, NJ Board Chair of Clean Water Action. “Exelon’s decommissioning fund was financed through a surcharge on ratepayer’s electric bills, and that money should stay in NJ and used for keeping the workers employed by taking apart the plant piece by radioactive piece.”

“For the past decade citizens have called upon the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Exelon to close this old rusty plant,” said Peggi Sturmfels, member of Grandmothers, Mothers & More For Energy Safety (GRAMMES) and Board Member of Clean Water Action. “We were also the first to call for a full decommissioning that would allow the continued employment of the plant’s workers. Most of the safety issues that this plant experienced were brought to light during our lengthy legal fights to make this plant safe as we were waiting for it to close. While we are glad that this announcement has been made, the work is not done. We will be demanding that full decommissioning will take place returning the this Jersey Shore area to a clean, healthy place for the residents.”

Decommissioning the plant could take over a decade, and employ up to 650 skilled workers.

Clean Water Action and GRAMMES spearheaded the drive to shut the plan during the relicensing battle in 2009 by bringing to light the rusting and corroding of the reactor’s drywell, the steel containment that shields the public from massive radiation in the event of a meltdown. The intervention led to increased safety monitoring through ultra-sonic testing.

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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. We will protect clean water in the face of attacks from a polluter friendly Administration and Congress. www.cleanwateraction.org/nj