Oyster Creek Returns to Service Following Refueling and Maintenance Outage

Oyster Creek Generating Station has returned to service after a 42-day refueling and maintenance outage.

According to Tuesday’s Power Reactor Status Report by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the nuclear power plant was operating at 22 percent.

The power generator was taken offline on Oct. 22 for a planned refueling outage.

Since that outage, the NRC has reported the discovery of and a pinhole leak in the reactor vessel head cooling system.

Both issues have been resolved, NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said.

“NRC metallurgical specialists reviewed the company’s evaluation of the flaws and its repair plans and work. We were satisfied that the repairs were thorough and consistent with ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) Code,” he 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.