To the editor,
On Monday, Feb. 27, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) sent out emails to its former citizen intervenors about its 90-day public consultation about the draft licence application guide to prepare a site for the proposed Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) deep geological repository (DGR). Most Canadians never hear about these consultations, but here is information to engage you.
For folks who are not yet aware, the DGR for high-level radioactive waste was proposed by the NWMO more than 10 years ago to approximately 25 rural and remote communities, which eventually were reduced to a choice between midwestern Ontario’s Municipality of South Bruce and the Township of Ignace in northwestern Ontario.
The previously proposed DGR, focused only on low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste, was stopped by Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) in early 2020, who had written a contract with that DGR’s proponent Ontario Power Generation, in which SON was given the final say. But what was promised to SON in its subsequent private contract with NWMO?
The surrounding non-Indigenous communities are obstructed from having open dialogue with SON, not just because of such private contracts with SON yet also private contracts carried out by NWMO with South Bruce and other selected communities. Nor do the ratepayers and grassroots community members even know these contracts’ contents. The divide-and-conquer tactics of colonialism are alive and well, reducing the transparency of what really is happening to entire communities, while their politicians take the money.
Believe it or not, on the same day that CNSC distributed its 90-day consultation notice, a news story appeared in the online newspaper The National Observer titled, “Nuclear Waste Management Organization extends underground storage site selection until 2024.” That fact is true, but the photograph incorrectly refers only to Saugeen First Nation instead of SON, which includes two sister Anishinaabe First Nations. The photo shows Chief Veronica Smith, who is the current chief of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, standing with Lester Anoquot, who is currently a councillor (and a former chief), with neighbouring Saugeen First Nation.
The type of DGR proposed in Canada, based on the Swedish KBS-3 design, does not yet operate anywhere in the world. It therefore is an experiment, despite the claims otherwise by the NWMO. Any thinking person ought to ask why it has been in development through several decades. The reason is that, again, contrary to the repeatedly declared “international consensus,” there are scientists who have experience in the nuclear industry yet who independently raise serious concerns about major various technical and climate change uncertainties about long term DGR safety.
The biggest question at this moment, however, despite the NWMO continuing to conduct various studies at the potential sites – both in South Bruce and Ignace – is how authentic and honest is the NWMO process, namely, to allow a community-driven referendum to decide, yes or no, regarding a future DGR, when the CNSC is so aggressively beginning public consultation at a federal level?
By the way, up north in Ignace its municipal council has taken over full control to decide. In midwestern Ontario, the Municipality of South Bruce is seen by concerned citizens as being totally captured by the NWMO, for example, almost never opening the door to presenters at the South Bruce Community Liaison Committee who are well-informed with perspectives about the potential environmental dangers and the science not yet known.
Finally, this proposed DGR will have environmental impacts beyond South Bruce, which folks in neighbouring communities need to start asking about, together with their political representatives in regional municipal councils. The reason is, sooner or later, NWMO will come with offers of money for neighbouring councils to support the project. The Township of Huron-Kinloss recently received its “Near-Term Investment Funding,” which targets “significant neighbouring communities.” Who is next?
Importantly, for any and all citizens who want to participate, look up this CNSC link at https://www.letstalknuclearsafety.ca/regdoc-1-2-3-licence-application-guide-deep-geological-repository, which is a “Consultation Backgrounder.” Also important, to acquire a better understanding, is a webinar open to interested citizens scheduled on March 22.
Dr. Sandy Greer
Blyth
