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Published in the Ocean County Observer
4/13/04 by Don Bennett
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association May 2004 Newsletter)
TOMS RIVER -- Starting with a "high degree of skepticism," New Jersey environmental protectors are preparing a technical report on the safety and security issues that would result from a federal decision to extend the license of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lacey Township.
"We have significant safety and enforcement concerns," Department of Environmental Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell told Ocean County's mayors yesterday. The final call on whether the plant's license, due to expire in 2009, is extended for 20 years will be made by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Campbell said. "We want to make sure we're presenting a strong technical case ... as forceful and as influential as possible."
He said the report to the NRC could be completed in as little as 30 or 60 days. Safety, security, the age of the plant that began making electricity from nuclear energy in 1969, and its impact on fisheries in the Barnegat Bay "weigh heavily on the administration," Campbell said.
He huddled after yesterday's meeting with Brick Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli, a leader of the effort to prevent the extension of the license beyond 2009. Campbell pointed to a $1 million settlement reached last week over the most recent fish kill in the Oyster Creek due to thermal shock caused by the plant's discharge.
AmerGen, which owns the Oyster Creek plant, has applied to have its license extended by the NRC, and points to security and plant upgrades as putting the state's oldest nuclear power plant in a position to continue generating enough electricity to meet the needs of 600,000 homes. Where will that power come from if Oyster Creek stops generating it in 2009?
"We have time, time to plan for appropriate alternatives for power," Campbell said. Scarpelli said a number of officials from North Jersey who recreate in Ocean, Atlantic and Burlington counties are concerned about the bid to extend Oyster Creek's license.
It was no accident then that Scarpelli was also urging Ocean County's mayors to get behind state preservation plans in the Highlands. Scarpelli said people in 17 counties get some or all of their drinking water from that region.
Tom Fote, legislative chairman of the New Jersey Coast Anglers Association, said in 20 years there will be pressure on the Pinelands of Ocean County to provide drinking water if the Highlands are not preserved as a source for it.
Scarpelli said members of the Ocean County Mayors Association will consider a resolution supporting Highlands preservation when they meet next month. Campbell also hammered some of the Bush administration's environmental policies for the impact they will have on New Jersey.
He said proposed weakening of federal air pollution control standards on smog "won't help New Jersey at all."
New Jersey wants a monitor for ozone and soot put in the Philadelphia region to measure what is blowing from west to east into New Jersey. The EPA wants to put it in New York City, Campbell said.
He also criticized the federal plan to retreat from the drive to reduce mercury emitted from power plants and incinerators. Campbell said more than a third of the mercury deposited in New Jersey comes from "upwind sources."
That neurotoxin is a "significant threat to young and developing infants," he said.
Pine Beach Mayor Russell K. Corby asked if there is any new federal money to help implement federally mandated stormwater-management rules.
Campbell said the state is providing $6 million this year and next, but no significant federal funds are available.
"It's a great disappointment," he said.
"We need a construction grants program," Campbell suggested.
Corby asked if New York City will treat sewage produced at an expanded Javitts Center and a new stadium, instead of dumping it into New York Harbor untreated.
Campbell said New Jersey officials "are not satisfied," with the progress New York is making in living up to an earlier consent degree on sewage treatment, and might turn to the courts to force action.