10 Apr (NucNet): The operating licence of the US Oyster Creek nuclear power plant has been renewed for an additional 20 years – which extends operations at the plant to a total of 60 years.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced its decision on 8 April 2009. The licence for the single-unit plant in New Jersey is renewed until April 2029.
Oyster Creek, a 625 megawatt boiling water reactor, was first connected to the grid in September 1969.
The NRC said it had conducted thorough safety and environmental reviews of the renewal application that was submitted in July 2005 by plant operator AmerGen Energy, a subsidiary of Exelon Nuclear Generation.
“This has been the most extensive licence renewal review to date, including the first adjudicatory hearing of a licence renewal application,” said Eric Leeds, NRC’s director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Earlier this month, the NRC dismissed challenges to the application by six groups opposing renewal in proceedings before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB).
The groups alleged that corrosion in Oyster Creek’s steel drywell containment shell could jeopardise safe operation during the period of extended operation. The ASLB rejected the safety contention in December 2007 and the groups appealed against the decision to the NRC.
Oyster Creek is the 52nd US reactor licence renewed by the NRC. Thirteen other applications are under review.
Details are on the Oyster Creek licence renewal website (http://www.oystercreeklr.com).
– by John Shepherd
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Exelon Completes Integration Of Former AmerGen N-Plants (World Nuclear Review No. 2, 9 January 2009
NRC Clears Way For Oyster Creek Licence Renewal (News in Brief No. 38, 2 April 2009)
