UPDATE: "Unusual Event" Declaration Terminated At Oyster Creek

Exelon Nuclear terminated the “unusual event” declaration at Oyster Creek Generating Station at approximately 5:54 p.m., spokesperson Suzanne D’Ambrosio said.

“None of Exelon Nuclear's four Mid-Atlantic nuclear energy stations was affected by this afternoon’s seismic activity in Virginia, and all continue to operate safely at this time,” D’Ambrosio said.

Once the seismic event was verified the plant declared an “unusual event,” which is considered the lowest level of their emergency classifications, spokesperson Suzanne D’Ambrosio said. This activates the plant’s emergency response organization and emergency response procedures.

“While in the usual event, the plant operators and emergency personnel will walk the entire site to make sure nothing was affected by seismic event itself,” she said.

The plant is still at full power and plant equipment continued to function normally, D’Ambrosio said. No evacuations or additional safety measures were required.

Operators and emergency personnel performed “walk-downs” to identify any potential impact from the tremor but no damage to equipment or plant operations had been reported at this time, she said.

“Nuclear energy plants are designed specifically to withstand the impact of earthquakes and other severe acts of nature. The earthquake, reported to be at a magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter Scale, did not challenge the engineered design of the Exelon facilities,” D’Ambrosio said.

Oyster Creek is the oldest operating nuclear plant in the country and provides enough around-the-clock electricity for 600,000 New Jersey homes and began commercial operations in 1969.