US NRC Approves Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant License Termination Plan

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the license termination plan for the Oyster Creek Generating Station. Located in Lacey Township, New Jersey, the plant is now more than halfway through its decommissioning and dismantlement work. With this approval, the project will proceed with the final phases of decommissioning and site restoration in accordance with the approved document.

The Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, New Jersey, before dismantlement

Holtec International stated that the approval of the license termination plan involved coordinated efforts across multiple departments, including engineering, radiation protection, environmental services, work management, project controls, licensing, communications, and security, led by the regulatory affairs department. Jeff Dostal, Vice President of Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant, stated that the approved plan provides a roadmap for the remaining decommissioning and site restoration work, and the project team will continue to complete the remaining tasks in accordance with safety and regulatory requirements.

In 1967, the Oyster Creek reactor was hoisted into the reactor building

The Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant began generating electricity in December 1969 and was permanently shut down in September 2018, operating for nearly 49 years. The plant was once the longest-operating commercial nuclear power plant in the United States, generating more than 192 terawatt-hours of electricity over its service life.

Rendering of the Oyster Creek SMR-300

Holtec International is also advancing future development plans for the Oyster Creek site. According to the plan, the Oyster Creek project proposes to build four SMR-300 small modular reactor units, with a total installed capacity expected to reach 1,360 megawatts. The company stated that the project is expected to create approximately 4,000 construction jobs and more than 400 long-term positions, with additional employment driven through the local supply chain.

The company also stated that the project could bring economic benefits such as increased tax revenue and infrastructure investment, and has potential for integration with artificial intelligence data centers. The Oyster Creek site is approximately 54 miles from Holtec International's headquarters in Camden, New Jersey, and the company believes this location is advantageous for advancing the development, construction, and deployment of advanced nuclear energy technologies in the region.