Could a new plant, designed and built to current standards, be licensed on the same site today? With the growth of Ocean County, which continues today, it is not certain that a nuclear plant would be permitted there today.

The design of Oyster Creek's reactor has been prohibited for nearly four decades. Does that reactor conform to today's standards? Would Oyster Creek receive a license today with that reactor?

In light of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, would Oyster Creek's storage system, which is located close to Route 9, be acceptable today?

Is the evacuation plan realistic in today's Ocean County?

Every few months something about Oyster Creek comes up. I've blogged my thoughts about this several times. This plant is known for its accidents and union disputes with workers who blow whistles about the plant's many problems.

I am of the opinion that they should update the plant rather than shut it down. Remove the current reactor, encase it in solid concrete on the western part of the site, and install something new and modern. They already have a very significant amount of waste storage on site, might as well go for broke. It is Jersey after all, home of the Toxic Avenger. The plant would not be a problem if it was safe and efficient. Currently, it is neither.