Dear Editor:
Here we go again! It has not even been a year since they left town and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is back on the doorstep of the Municipality of South Bruce asking to “come in.” And council opened the door!
The NWMO has released a discussion document on a proposed approach for siting a deep geological repository (DGR). There are those initials again – DGR! This DGR is not for the used nuclear fuel bundles, but for all the other “radioactive waste” that the nuclear industry produces such as contaminated tools, worn out or damaged equipment parts, work clothes, etc., that are classified as intermediate-level and high-level radioactive waste. Because they are so radioactive, they also have to go some where, and a DGR seems to be the NWMO’s desired place.
The NWMO, with this second DGR, wants to focus on technical safety and community willingness as the primary site selection criteria. Is that not what the first DGR is all about – promoting all the safety measures of a DGR and giving lots of money to the community to make them willing?
The NWMO’s invitation is for Municipal staff to review the discussion document on the subject and provide feedback. One council member thinks that municipal staff are very experienced about this process and could provide valuable insight. Possibly one of the experienced municipal staff is an employee who previously worked with the South Bruce Nuclear Waste Project team, a team that only listened to the NWMO?
It seems that the municipal council has not had enough community conflict over the last five to 12 years, and is asking for more. Is this going to lead to a divided community again? Council did pass a motion to allow the review. And the community will be allowed to give feedback. How many residents will even know about the review and give feedback?
The NWMO may not be as visible, but they have not left South Bruce. Remember NWMO still own 1,500 acres of farmland. There is also NWMO involvement regarding the 20th Sideroad concerns about four-wheeler traffic. South Bruce is still involved with the NWMO, so residents should be carefully watching just what the Mayor and council are doing – probably in closed sessions.
S.A. McDonald,
Culross/Teeswater
