PSEG NUCLEAR.JPG

If a land swap between PSEG Nuclear and the Army Corps of Engineers goes through, the additional land at Artificial Island in Lower Alloways Creek Township would provide space for a new nuclear reactor if the utility decided to one day build one there.

(Times File Photo)

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. — The deadline looms this week for members of the public to voice their opinions on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposal to swap land with PSEG Nuclear, a move which would give the utility the space it would need in the future to build a new reactor.

The leader of one environmental group says the public needs more time to comment and a public hearing is needed before any final decision on the deal is made.

Maya K. van Rossum, from the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, claims the draft environmental assessment of the proposed land deal is "sorely deficient."

On July 15, the Army Corps released a draft environmental assessment on the plan. The deadline for public comment was set for Aug. 14, but van Rossum says that's not long enough.

Under the proposed deal, the Army Corps would get 354 acres of land in Oldmans and Logan townships that would likely be used for disposing of Delaware River dredge spoils and PSEG Nuclear would be given 631 acres of land the Army Corps owns on Artificial Island adjacent to its current generating complex.

PSEG Nuclear is currently in negotiations to purchase the land in Oldmans and Logan.

The company already operates three reactors on the Artificial Island in Lower Alloways Creek Township at the point where the Delaware Bay and Delaware River meet.

The utility has an Early Site Permit application now under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission which, if granted, would be just the first in many hurdles facing the company before it could proceed with a new reactor at the site. A decision on that application is expected in 2015.

That Early Site Permit would be good for 20 years and the utility could ask for a 20-year extension if it has not moved ahead with work on a new plant.

"Though we are not looking to building any time in the near future, the early site permit and acquisition of this land would keep that option open to us," Joe Delmar, PSEG Nuclear spokesman, said.

He added that the request for comments on the land swap are part of "a very public and transparent process to allow the public to weigh in on possible impacts" of possible construction of a new reactor at the Artificial Island site.

Van Rossum said the Riverkeeper Network is asking the public comment period on the assessment be extended into at least September and that a public hearing on the swap be scheduled.

She said more time is needed for a review of the plan because of the environmentally sensitive areas involved.

U.S Army Corps spokesman Richard Pearsall said Monday that the Corps had received requests that the comment deadline be extended. He said officials are considering the request and expect to make a decision before the current comment deadline expires later this week.

Van Rossum said many people may miss the chance to comment on the proposal because it was released at a time when many are on vacation.

She also said she believes the environmental assessment does not "take a careful look at the impact on the community and environment" that the construction of a new nuclear plant would have.

Van Rossum is rallying environmental groups to ask the Army Corps for more time to review the plan and hold a public hearing.

Pearsall said the public's input on the proposal will be reviewed to determine if changes need to be made in the draft environmental assessment.

Once that is completed, a final environmental assessment will be issued by the Army Corps, Pearsall said, and that will determine how soon the land swap can take place.

It's estimated that a new nuclear plant would cost around $15 billion. There are many factors which will determine whether the utility moves ahead with one.

Currently, the three reactors which operate at the Island — Salem 1, Salem 2 and Hope Creek — generate 50 percent of all the electricity used in New Jersey.

Information on the proposal can be found on the Army Corps' website at www.nap.usace.army.mil

Those who want to comment on the draft environmental assessment, can write to the Army Corps in care of at Peter R. Blum, P.E., Attn: Environmental Resources Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wanamaker Building 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3390 or email at peter.r.blum@usace.army.mil. Another email address is Edward C. Voigt at edward.c.voigt@usace.army.mil or via phone at or phone at 215-656-6515.

Bill Gallo may be reached at bgallo@southjerseymedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.