Written by Janet Tauro, NJEF Board Chair

Congressman Jon Runyan's statement in his Jan. 18 commentary, "Find new use for nuclear plant," that nuclear power must be "a part of a future energy independence strategy" and done in an "environmentally responsible fashion" is an oxymoron, and reflective of a banal history of wishful thinking.

Any technology that emits daily releases of a cocktail of radioactive isotopes and leaves behind a deadly pile of waste that remains radioactive for tens of thousands of years does not fit the definition of "environmentally responsible."

His blind faith in nuclear power disregards data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showing that renewables are outpacing nuclear in meeting the country's energy needs, proving that wind, solar, biomass/biofuel and hydropower could dominate our energy plan, given the political will.

His push for new construction of a power plant to replace Oyster Creek in Lacey when it closes in 2019 ignores a simple, straightforward fact. Before there is any new construction at Oyster Creek, the plant must be decommissioned, taken apart piece by radiated piece and secured, and the 750 metric tons of radioactive waste in the overhead fuel pool must be moved to dry cask.

Runyan's primary focus should be on preventing a Fukushima-type scenario at Oyster Creek by demanding swift action on safety upgrades that were pinpointed by a federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission task force and were the focus of citizen outcry for years.

Oyster Creek, the same General Electric Mark I boiling water design as Fukushima, has numerous ongoing safety problems that have not been adequately addressed, including:

Vents installed at Oyster Creek in 1989 are a Band-aid solution to a basic design flaw that prompted three General Electric engineers to quit in protest, citing dangerous shortcomings. The vents, which are supposed to release a buildup of steam pressure if cooling is lost, had a 100 percent failure rate at Fukushima.

The fuel pool, dangerously overpacked beyond its design capacity, does not have backup power, adding an unacceptable level of risk for the highly radioactive fuel rods to ignite and spew radiation into the atmosphere, which the National Academy of Sciences stated would devastate the Eastern seaboard.

The isolation-condenser, which is supposed to keep the reactor cool in case of a loss of power, is the same that had a 100 percent failure rate at Fukushima.

Corrosion of the drywell, the steel containment around the reactor designed to shield the public from radiation in the event of a meltdown, is ongoing.
Manufacturers have warned that reactor control blades meant to stop the nuclear fission process in the event of an accident may not function properly during an earthquake.

Longstanding fire protection deficiencies.
Federal, state and local elected officials habitually ignore the employment potential in decommissioning the plant. Exelon's hefty decommissioning fund was paid by New Jersey ratepayers through surcharges on their electric bills. That money was generated in New Jersey, and should stay in New Jersey to pay for the plant's dismantling and a just transition for the work force. Decommissioning can take from 10 to 12 years and employ hundreds of skilled workers, many of the same now employed at Oyster Creek.

Considering that Ocean County has one of the highest pediatric cancer rates in the country, Runyan and Gov. Chris Christie, who also has touted nuclear power, should become well versed with the results of a French epidemiological study that found an increased rate of leukemia in children under 5 living near nuclear plants.

Fukushima, even more than Chernobyl or Three Mile Island, was a game changer. It taught us that humans cannot control this deadly technology when mechanical and structural weaknesses confront extreme natural forces such as hurricanes, tsunamis or earthquakes.
Here at home, Runyan should hold public hearings during which Exelon officials answer questions about safety concerns raised by both citizens and experts - and answer under oath. And Christie should immediately charge the state's independent Oyster Creek safety panel with a thorough review of the NRC's task force recommendations and demand speedy implementation.

If Exelon does not comply with forthcoming NRC safety recommendations, federal officials and Christie should team together for the sake of the Jersey Shore and shut down Oyster Creek.