The Toronto Star reports, “State senators in Michigan say that a planned (low-level and medium-level) nuclear waste disposal site near Kincardine, Ont., ‘raises serious concerns’. …Ontario Power Generation (OPG) proposes to construct the facility at the Bruce nuclear station beside Lake Huron. …The concern is expressed in a resolution passed Tuesday by the Senate.”
“(Dismissing the Michigan Senate resolution), OPG spokesman Neal Kelly (says), ‘The (site) isn’t located on the shore of Lake Huron; it’s about a kilometre inland’. …The resolution, which carried without dissent on a voice vote, notes that Michigan rules prohibit low-level nuclear waste from being stored within 10 miles (16 kilometres) of the lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes system bordering Michigan.” The proposed site is less than a mile (1.6 kilometres) from the Lake Huron shoreline and upstream of the main drinking water intakes for southeast Michigan.
“A federal review panel will hold hearings on the plan later this year.” But the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will not be reviewing this repository, instead it will be evaluated by an independently appointed three-member panel. It was expected that the repository could receive approval as early as this year and begin receiving nuclear waste by 2018.
Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow recently spoke in Grand Rapids, Michigan to build awareness of the Great Lakes as a commons and public trust. We also continue to work closely with our ally Michigan-based FLOW (For Love of Water) on Great Lakes issues.
On August 1, Barlow will be speaking in Port Elgin. In that community, officials have expressed interest in having a high-level nuclear waste repository through a national Nuclear Waste Management Organization process. Port Elgin is located 38 kilometres north of Kincardine along the Lake Huron shoreline.
For more, please read:
Michigan state Senate says Ontario nuclear waste site ‘raises serious concerns’
UPDATE: Barlow speaks in Grand Rapids about the Great Lakes
NEWS: Billboard in Toronto says no to nuclear waste dump on Lake Huron
