| The public hearing yesterday held by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and the NJ State Police was intended to solicit public comments on the Radiological Emergency Response Plan – that is, evacuation in the event of a disaster at Oyster Creek. But the process is fundamentally flawed.
There are several issues. First, comments and questions are directed toward the architects of the plan, not to independent parties. The creators of the plan are not the proper forum because of their investment in the project. We need someone who can listen objectively to public dissent and concede that there may be flaws.
Second, various aspects of the Oyster Creek operation are regulated by different agencies. As a result, responsibilities are fragmented. Several questions posed at the hearing were directed toward DEP, but fall under NRC jurisdiction. If there is a process to forward questions to the right party, it isn’t obvious to the public.
Finally, unanswered questions need to be addressed. The Board of Chosen Freeholders is not addressing these issues with the appropriate authorities. Some of the issues were raised at last year’s hearing, and the one before that, but are still on the table without resolution.
In sum, residents, employees, businesses and visitors deserve a workable evacuation plan that properly accounts for our existing infrastructure, for human behavior, and for the many variables that are impossible to predict. Tens of thousand of lives are counting on it.
It's time for a change in Ocean County. With your support, we will win in November!
VoteSherer
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