Connors, Rumpf & Gove

December 9, 2010   

Contact: Jason Smith / (609) 693-6700
District 9

In light of the announcement by Exelon, the operator of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility, that the company will cease operations at the facility in 2019, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove are calling for immediate action on their legislation (S-866/A-296) that would establish a New Jersey Coordinating Council on the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Generating Facilities.

In response to today’s announcement, the 9th District delegation immediately wrote to Governor Chris Christie asking for the Administration’s support for their legislation that was initially introduced in January of 2004. In its letter to the Governor, the delegation emphasized their concerns regarding the potential economic and environmental impact that facility’s closure would have on the local area.

“In light of the recent announcement by Exelon, operator of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, that the company will cease operations at the facility in 2019, our delegation is bringing to your attention legislation (S-866/A-296) we have introduced more than five years ago that would establish a New Jersey Coordinating Council on the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Generating Facilities.

“The time is now upon the state to develop a comprehensive plan for the eventual decommissioning process that can be in place at the appropriate time so as to avoid or significantly mitigate any associated negative economic, environmental, etc. impacts on the local area, most prominently Lacey Township (the host community). As you fully understand, the Oyster Creek facility, the nation’s oldest operating nuclear plant, casts a large shadow over Southern Ocean County not only in terms of providing energy but also by playing a significant role in the local economy. Hundreds of well paying jobs are directly provided by the facility, which does not include work performed by hundreds of outside contractors. Equally important, there are serious environmental factors which must be considered and prepared for, including the storage and disposal of radioactive materials, such as spent fuel rods.

“Under our legislation, a copy which has been enclosed, the decommissioning Council would be charged with coordinating and reviewing the development and implementation of plans prepared by public utilities and governmental agencies for the decommissioning of electric generating nuclear facilities in order to assure that the plans and plan implementation comport with applicable federal and State laws and policies. More specifically, the Council would review plans, studies and schedules related to:

1. the useful life of each facility;
2. the physical decommissioning of a facility;
3. the estimated costs of decommissioning and the financial plan for funding those costs;
4. any environmental impacts of a decommissioning;
5. the storage, transportation and disposal of radioactive materials or wastes from the facility;
6. the safety and security measures to be taken during the decommissioning;
7. the sources and costs of replacement power required to meet the service area demands associated with the decommissioning or;
8. any other matter affecting public health, safety and welfare.

“The core objective would be coordinating the development of the various public and private decommissioning plans by creating a single entity consisting of the relevant interests. Our legislation also takes into consideration the critical need for promoting local government involvement and understanding of the process and problems involving decommissioning a nuclear generating plant and the steps being taken to address those problems.

“Accordingly, our delegation is requesting the Administration’s support for our legislation and its core objectives. Additionally, we are asking that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) evaluate our legislation and provide any guidance and/or recommendations.”

The 9th District legislators also contacted Senator Bob Smith and Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, who Chair the Committees to which S-866 and A-296 have been referred to, requesting the measures be posted for Committee consideration at the earliest opportunity.

Click here to view a PDF of the letter to Governor Christie from the 9th District legislators.

In light of the announcement by Exelon, the operator of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility, that the company will cease operations at the facility in 2019, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove are calling for immediate action [...]