The Nuclear Regulatory Commissions 3 to 1 vote to extend the License of the nation's oldest operating commercial nuclear power plant isn't likely to spell the end of challenges.
Opponents still have several avenues of recourse. N.R.C. spokesman Neil Sheehan says the Stop the Re-licensing of Oyster Creek Coalition would have the ability to file a motion with the commission for reconsideration or to challenge it in federal court.
Yesterday's decision to approve the Lacey Township plant's twenty year license extension followed the N.R.C. judges rejection of an appeal by S.T.R.O.C. The coalition was challenging the commission's findings that the steel radiation barrier surrounding the nuclear reactor was sturdy enough to last another twenty years of operation.
Richard Webster of S.T.R.O.C. says "the vote not only ignored concerns of citizen's but also that of four Congressmen and The State Department of Environmental Protection officials, all of whom urged the commission to delay a vote until the 3-D analysis was performed according to the recommendations of its advisory boards, and until crucial analysis that gave the reactor's steel containment a 60 percent boost in safety margins was sent to the Sandia National Laboratory for review."
Dave Benson of Exelon, Oyster Creek's parent company says, "We are pleased with that decision. We feel it's the right one. Our 3-d analysis of the drywell has shown that not only is it robust but that it exceeds the A.S.M.E. requirements."
Benson and re-licensing opponents say they'll be pouring over a 96 page order by the 4 judge commission to see what it all means.
Webster says it's too early to say if they'll be challenging the decision until they read the judges opinions.
Sheehan says the four-year license renewal review is the longest that has taken place among the 104 reactors in the country.
Sheehan says the license is likely to be granted by April 9th which is the same day the plant's current operating license expires.
Opponents still have several avenues of recourse. N.R.C. spokesman Neil Sheehan says the Stop the Re-licensing of Oyster Creek Coalition would have the ability to file a motion with the commission for reconsideration or to challenge it in federal court.
Yesterday's decision to approve the Lacey Township plant's twenty year license extension followed the N.R.C. judges rejection of an appeal by S.T.R.O.C. The coalition was challenging the commission's findings that the steel radiation barrier surrounding the nuclear reactor was sturdy enough to last another twenty years of operation.
Richard Webster of S.T.R.O.C. says "the vote not only ignored concerns of citizen's but also that of four Congressmen and The State Department of Environmental Protection officials, all of whom urged the commission to delay a vote until the 3-D analysis was performed according to the recommendations of its advisory boards, and until crucial analysis that gave the reactor's steel containment a 60 percent boost in safety margins was sent to the Sandia National Laboratory for review."
Dave Benson of Exelon, Oyster Creek's parent company says, "We are pleased with that decision. We feel it's the right one. Our 3-d analysis of the drywell has shown that not only is it robust but that it exceeds the A.S.M.E. requirements."
Benson and re-licensing opponents say they'll be pouring over a 96 page order by the 4 judge commission to see what it all means.
Webster says it's too early to say if they'll be challenging the decision until they read the judges opinions.
Sheehan says the four-year license renewal review is the longest that has taken place among the 104 reactors in the country.
Sheehan says the license is likely to be granted by April 9th which is the same day the plant's current operating license expires.
by Rosetta Key
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