Global Warming News

As the new home of NJPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Jersey can be contacted regarding this news release.

The NRC announced on September 13 that Exelon's license extension application for the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant has been has been docketed and that the NRC will begin its technical review of the plant. The NRC also announced that within 60 days of a published notice in the Federal Register, any party who will be affected by the license renewal can file for a hearing and petition to intervene in the process. The notice will be published in the Federal Register very soon; at a recent NRC meeting, the estimated date given was this Friday, September 16th.

NRC ANNOUNCES OPPORTUNITY FOR HEARING ON APPLICATION TO RENEW OPERATING LICENSE FOR OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR PLANT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced the opportunity to request a hearing on an application to renew the operating license for the Oyster Creek Generating Station for an additional 20 years.
The Oyster Creek nuclear plant is a boiling water reactor located nine miles south of Toms River, N.J. AmerGen Energy Co. LLC submitted the renewal application July 22. The current operating license for Oyster Creek expires on April 9, 2009.

The NRC staff has determined that the application contains sufficient information for the agency to formally "docket," or file, the application and begin its technical review. Docketing the application does not preclude requesting additional information as the review proceeds; nor does it indicate whether the Commission will grant the application.

A notice of opportunity to request a hearing will be published soon in the Federal Register. The deadline for requesting a hearing is 60 days after publication of the notice. Petitions may be filed by anyone whose interest may be affected by the license renewal and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding.

A request for hearing and a petition for leave to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. Requests may also be submitted by facsimile to (301) 415-1101 or e-mail to HEARINGDOCKET@nrc.gov. A copy should also be submitted to the NRC Office of General Counsel, by facsimile to (301) 415-3725 or e-mail to OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov.

Information about the license renewal process can be found on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html. The Oyster Creek renewal application is online at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/oystercreek.html.