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Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant Debacle

This is an issue that directly affects my home community and has been waged in the media and realm of public opinion for months. I've read and listened to each side of the debate and now I'm becoming increasingly disturbed by what is being put forth, especially by supposedly learned individuals.

In a recent op-ed piece in my local newspaper there was a letter written by a Dr. Letty Goodman Lutzker, Chief, Nuclear Medicine, St. Baranabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ. In her letter, Dr. Lutzker lauded Oyster Creek and it's record. She insists that the plant's closure would mean a loss of power and thrust the local community into economic strife which would, in turn, lead to health problems due to poverty and inability to obtain proper medical care. She goes on to state that half our electricity comes from nuclear power and most of that is from Oyster Creek.

Personally, I think that Dr. Lutzker is a complete moron, but that's just my opinion.

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station was built on the banks of the Oyster Creek leading to the Barnegat Inlet on the southern rim of Lacey (Forked River) Township in New Jersey. It has been owned by several entities and is currently run by a company called Excelon. The plant was built in 1969 and given a 40-year operating license by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). It was thought at the time that the plant would only operate for those 40 years. It was, in fact, the first commercial nuclear plant built in the United States. Most of it's designs aren't even used or relevent anymore. Excelon has requested a 20-year license extension from the NRC to operate into 2029. They point out a stellar history at the plant and the wonders of nuclear power. Of course they would. They also warn of the threats to the economy of Lacey, the rest of Ocean County and New Jersey if the plant were to close. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that kind of sound like a threat?

In the same issue of the local paper in the editorial section, Janet Tauro wrote about NJ Governor Jon S. Corzine's unveiling of is Energy Master Plan which he hopes will increase energy independence and would address the problems with the climate by using renewable energy technologies. Noteably absent from the plan was mention of Oyster Creek. Ms. Tauro even points to similar efforts by European nations and by some of our own representatives in Congress.

To be fair, though the debate rages hot and heavy on both sides of the fence, there are pros and cons for each side.

Proponents of the plant point out the wonders and safety of nuclear power. Okay, lets start there.

A nuclear reactor is nothing more than splitting atoms to create heat to boil water which turn a turbine to create electricity. That's the dumbed-down explanation. It's true that nuclear generation produces almost no greenhouse gases, but it is a far cry from not producing harmful waste products. Oyster Creek even stores their spent fuel rods ABOVE ground and in a storage facility on the plant grounds which amounts to a tin shack. This causes significant problems in an area that has grown rapidly since the plant was built in 1969.

Nuclear power is a great source of energy and is even utilized in our modern navy. If the proposition was to build a brand spanking new, state of the art plant elsewhere in New Jersey, I think the issue would not be as problematic.

For Oyster Creek, however, it's just too old.

Despite the fact that they store potentially dangerous nuclear waste on the plant site near residents that have encroached right up the the gates of the plant, the water that is heated to steam to turn the turbines is, well, HOT. They have to dump that water back into the creek to cool it down and then bring it back into the reactor to heat up again. The problem there is that the shock of extremely hot water being injected into the aquatic environment has, on many an occasion, had a fatal effect on the native fish species. So much so that environmentalist groups are asking the state and the NRC to at the very least force Oyster Creek to install cooling towers to protect the local wildlife. Excelon won't due it because of the cost. Better to pay those fines for killing the fish.

Then there is the infamous reactor well. Shaped like an upside down light bulb and held inside the reactor assembly, it's where all the action happens. The problem is it has more holes than the swiss cheese I get at the Shop-Rite only a scant few miles from the plant. The shell is eroding and could lead to a catastrophic failure. But first we are told the reactor well is not damaged and in fact intact Then they say it is eroded but does not pose a threat. Yet.

Then there is the question of evacuation. In 1969, the NRC stated that the area and the population were such that evacuation would not be a concern should the "improbable" occur at Oyster Creek. That was close to 40 years ago! The only roadways out of the area are Rt. 9 and the Garden State Parkway. Both roadways are heavily traveled to gridlock proportions.

Last spring there was an incident in which a trucker foolishly failed to realize his truck did not have the clearance to pass under the Garden State Parkway overpass that allows traffic from Lacey Road east and west to cross the Parkway. He got stuck, effectively shutting down Lacey Road and the Parkway. Half of our so-called escape routes were gone. Rt. 9 was then effectively shut down due to the massive increase in traffic volume. Now this was due to a one shot traffic crash that was cleared and the damage repaired. What would happen if the plant did go critical?

And lets not get into the times the plant was unexpectedly shutdown through error or equipment malfunction.

Through all this, it seems that the case for shuttering the plant is the more sound option. Not only is the plant old, but it is run by a bunch of moron monkeys! And the final nail they will strike is the threat of economic downturn without the plant and the tax revenues it produces. I'm not certain this would be the case (just as I'm not sure that we even get any of the electricity produced in our own backyard). Despite this, the original license was for 40 years. You would think that the leaders of the township, county and state would have anticipated this and elected to try to bring in more rateables and businesses to off-set the potential loss of the plant. I guess that just goes to show how forward thinking our leaders really are.

Sadly, it seems no one will be satisfied unless we all end up glowing in the dark. Well, my mother always did say that I was meant to shine.

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day. Armistice Day. Remembrance Day. A commeration of the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918 with the signing of the Armistice with Germany. This day was set forth to honor all those men and women serving in our military, past and present, for there sacrifice, honor, and service. More than just a day off of work or school, this day is a time to look at what we have in this country and remember those who fought for our rights, our values, and our beliefs. We are all one nation and one people thanks to the men and women who helped to defend it. Everyone, everywhere should take the time if they have the opportunity to thank a vet or serviceman.

Are Mormons Prudes?

Last weekend I read an article in my local newspaper written by the Associated Press. The article was about how bloggers and gay-rights activists, among others, plan to boycott Utah, the home of the mormon church. The mormons, they say, had led a campaign to defeat the gay marraige proposition that was on the ballot in California this past election. Proposition 8, as it is known, had been pushed by several celebrities and others to end the discrimination that homosexuals, gays and lesbians, have had to endure due to their sexual orientation. I'm sure that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would espouse that homosexuality is a choice and an afront to God. I guess no one at that church has read a biology, psychology or history book. Homosexuality is not a choice, no more than eye color is. It may sound ridiculous to ban or boycott the state of Utah because of it's affiliation with these people, but maybe the threat is a start. The article points that 62% of Utah residents are mormons. That may be a lot of people, but surely it wasn't the only group that defeated the proposition. Sadly, we are still a child-like people, too fearful of what is different or of what we do not understand. As such, we will gladly trample on the civil liberties and rights of others so that we can keep the familiar and the safe. What a sad commentary on the human society.

History Is Made

"History is the essence of innumerable biographies." --- Thomas Carlyle::: The first Afro-American President of the United States of America. Elected September 2008 - Barak H. Obama.

Election Day

"We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate." -- Kin Hubbard

Later today all of America will hit the polls to cast their ballot for the man they believe is qualified to lead this country for the next 4, possibly 8, years. Either way, the election is historic in that we will elect either the first Afro-American president or the first female vice-president. But either way, will the man we put in the oval office be able to lead us out of the war in Iraq and re-polarize our economy. So much has gone wrong in this country. It's time to set things right. Every eligible man and woman should get out and vote. Doesn't matter who they vote for, as long as they vote. Put the right man in office, whomever it may be.