The public gets a chance to bring up safety concerns about the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Manahawkin this week. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will be hosting its annual review of the facility's safety performance.

Oyster Creek nuclear plant
Oyster Creek nuclear plant (Excelon)
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"We will be talking about how we believe the plant performed in 2013, as well as talking about our inspections planned for 2014," according to NRC Spokesman Neil Sheehan.

Also open for discussion, are the plant safety inspections that resulted from the Japanese nuclear disaster that was triggered by an earthquake and a tsunami. Sheehan said concerns arose at Oyster Creek during Superstorm Sandy.

"Where, even though the plant was shut down, they had to contend with some high water levels involving the plant's intake canal so, we are prepared to answer questions related to that," he explained.

On Thursday, May 22, the NRC's event will begin with an open house, followed by the public meeting at 6:30 at the Manahawkin Holiday Inn at 151 Route 72 West.

The NRC press release said "Overall, the Oyster Creek plant, which is owned and operated by Exelon Generation Co. LLC, operated safely during 2013. At the conclusion of last year, as assessed by the Reactor Oversight Process, there were no performance indicators for the plant that were other than "green" (very low risk) and no inspection findings that were "greater than green". As a result, Oyster Creek will continue to receive the NRC's normal level of oversight during 2014, barring any changes."

Sheehan said the public meeting will include a formal question-and-answer session regarding plant performance and oversight topics.

 

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