Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station (OCNGS), located along Barnegat Bay in Ocean County, New Jersey, was the first nuclear power station commissioned in the United States. Beginning operations in 1969, the plant was shut down ahead of schedule in late September 2018 after nearly 50 years of operation. Based on numerous studies conducted on the effects of OCNGS operation on biota and ecosystem-based changes due to closure, biomonitoring was conducted to determine quantitative pre- and post-impacts within the Barnegat Bay. Aligned closely with the Comprehensive Assessment of Barnegat Bay (2010-2012) – NJDEP| Division of Science and Research | Barnegat Bay, these studies will provide valuable data related to the influence and effects of similarly designed nuclear generating stations on coastal waterbodies, and provide information for future management decisions.

Projects:

Generator cooling water effluent restriction effects of Oyster Creek Generating Station decommissioning on the Barnegat Bay fish, crab, and benthic invertebrate community Studies and Monitoring (Full report | Fact Sheet )

Assessment of the impacts of OCNGS on gelatinous zooplankton and planktonic community structure (Full report | Fact Sheet )

Study of zooplankton of Barnegat Bay for monitoring and assessment of the closure of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant (Study is in progress)

Characterization of phytoplankton community changes· in Barnegat Bay related to the closure of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, combining next generation sequencing and microscopic analyses (Full Report | Fact Sheet )