Politics & Government

NRC to Hold Oyster Creek Open House on Wednesday

Members of the public will have the opportunity to discuss plant-related topics with NRC inspectors

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be conducting an open house to discuss the annual assessment of Oyster Creek Generating Station on Wednesday, March 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Stafford Township.

“Members of the public will have an opportunity to learn first-hand from NRC staff members about the plant’s safety performance during 2011 and the NRC’s oversight of the facility,” Neil Sheehan said in a NRC press release.

Citizens will be able to discuss plant-related topics with NRC inspectors and the Region I supervisor assigned to Oyster Creek.

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Overall, the plant operated safely during 2011, the NRC said. At the conclusion of the last year, there were no performance indicators or inspection findings that were greater than green, which signifies a very low safety significance.

“Throughout 2011, our inspectors kept close watch on a daily basis to ensure there were no safety issues of significance,” said Bill Dean, NRC Region I Administrator.

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The NRC logged approximately 5,200 hours of inspection to Oyster Creek in 2011. Time was also spent inspecting any potential safety concerns following the nuclear disaster at Fukushima.

“Those reviews indicated the plant remains safe for continued operation,” Dean said.

Since the Forked River nuclear plant performed well in 2011, Oyster Creek will receive a “detailed inspection regime” used by the NRC for plants that are operating safely.

In 2012, some of the areas of performance to be inspected by NRC specialists include permanent plant modifications, radiological waste processing and handling, emergency preparedness and the plant’s implementation of a voluntary industry initiative to address potential degradation of underground piping.

The annual assessment for Oyster Creek is available on the NRC website. Current performance information for the plant can also be found on the NRC website.

Return to Lacey Patch on Thursday to read about the open house and annual assessment.


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