Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, located in Lacey Township in Ocean County, is permanently shutdown.  During its operation from 1969 until 2018, Oyster Creek utilized boiling water reactor technology to produce steam used as the motive force to generate electricity.  Oyster Creek had a rated output of approximately 625 megawatts of electricity.

At the time of permanent shutdown, Oyster Creek was owned by Exelon Generation Company.

Operations at Oyster Creek were permanently ceased on September 17, 2018.  Oyster Creek immediately began the process of defueling the reactor which was completed on September 25, 2018.  Following defueling completion, Exelon provided certifications to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of permanent cessation of power operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor.  Oyster Creek is currently in the DECON mode of decommissioning.

On July 31, 2018, Exelon and Holtec International announced Holtec’s intent to purchase Oyster Creek.

On August 31, 2018, Exelon and Holtec submitted a License Transfer Application to the NRC.  The NRC completed its review of the application and found that Holtec is suitable and qualified to complete the safe decommissioning of Oyster Creek.  The NRC approved the license transfer on June 20, 2019.

On July 1, 2019, Holtec and its subsidiaries announced the ownership and acquisition of Oyster Creek.  Oyster Creek Environmental Protection is the licensed owner of Oyster Creek.  Holtec Decommissioning International is the licensed decommissioning operator and performs the day-to-day decommissioning activities at Oyster Creek.

As part of the permanent shutdown, Exelon and the Department of Environmental Protection had signed an Administrative Consent Order stipulating certain actions and requirements concerning Exelon’s activities during the period following permanent shutdown until the conclusion of decommissioning.  As the new owner of Oyster Creek, Holtec agreed to be bound by the Order.

On October 1, 2019, the Department of Environmental Protection formed an Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel whose purpose is to assist the Department with the evaluation of the decommissioning operations at Oyster Creek.  The Panel is purely advisory.

As the regulatory organization responsible for nuclear reactors, the NRC maintains public information concerning the decommissioning of permanently shutdown reactors.  Click on the following link for the NRC information applicable to Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.