Community Corner

State Nuclear Task Force Offers Safety Recommendations

Report to governor includes mandate that Oyster Creek have battery back up for alarm system

In a newly released report to the governor, New Jersey's Nuclear Review Task Force has offered a number of safety recommendations for the state's four nuclear power plants following the disaster in Japan, including an assertion that a backup alarm system is required for the Oyster Creek nuclear generating station.

"We confirmed that we already have excellent safety features at our nuclear power plants and a top notch emergency preparedness and response system in place in New Jersey, one that is continuously the focus of practice and improvement," said Bob Martin, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.

The Task Force, which was established by Gov. Chris Christie in March, examined emergency response protocols, technical reviews of plant operations, the chain of command and control at each of the nuclear facilities, evacuation plans and emergency communications to the public.

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“We had an obligation to examine the science and facts of the tragedy in Japan to see if there were early lessons learned to help make our preparedness and response plan even better. We understand you can never be too prepared, never be too comfortable in thinking you have all of the answers,” Martin said.

New Jersey's four nuclear reactors are: Oyster Creek in Lacey Township; the Salem Units One and Two reactors in Lower Alloways Creek Township; and Hope Creek, also in Lower Alloways Creek.

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Recommendations made include the following:

  • Battery backup must be installed for the siren network surrounding Oyster Creek; find alternative methods to delivering emergency messages to the public; and support federal initiatives for emergency preparedness drills that feature a variety of natural disasters.
  • The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) should evaluate interconnections of generators at each nuclear plant in Lower Alloways Creek and work with Exelon and PSE&G to develop procedures to quickly move essential equipment to deal with potential emergencies.
  • The number of emergency diesel pumps at nuclear plants to handle cooling for damaged systems should be increased; monitors should be added to view the spent fuel pool level from multiple locations; regional agreements between nuclear plant operators should be created providing access to redundant pumps and generators; press the NRC and federal Department of Energy to create a national depository for spent nuclear fuel.
  • The Task Force found that there was no technical or scientific reason to expand the current 10-mile emergency planning zone. The NRC must confirm this finding.
  • Coordinate emergency response exercises with New York and Pennsylvania; more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the State and federal government in handling potential emergencies; implement needed information technology upgrades at the State's emergency response headquarters.

The report also noted that one of the early lessons learned from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster was that in Japan, a "culture of complicity" existed between regulators and the nuclear industry, contributing to rules violations and cover-ups.

"Government cannot rely on industry itself to develop rules and regulations and must have an established, unbiased inspection program in place to ensure the safety of the citizens in the community surrounding the facility," the Task Force report reads.

The report goes on to note that the NRC has been criticized for its practice of installing inspectors at sites for six years at a time – a tenure long enough that some think it could impact their objectivity in assessing safety concerns.


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