The Peterborough Examiner reported on December 10 that, “General Electric-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada faced criticisms of its public consultation process and concerns about potential future operations at its Peterborough facility during a license renewal hearing (on December 9) in Ottawa. Several Peterborough residents spoke at the second of two hearings for the proposed 10-year operating license for GE-Hitachi nuclear fuel fabrication facilities in Peterborough and Toronto. Many of the concerns revolved around an amendment to the license the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted in February to allow the Peterborough facility to assemble low-enriched uranium fuel bundles.”
“The public consultation has been limited and inadequate, said Roy Brady, chairman of the local chapter of the Council of Canadians. ‘This is a nuclear issue–pretty serious stuff,’ he told the commission. ‘Most people in Peterborough are actually unaware of the amendment that has been approved….There is a clear suspicion out there…that General Electric may produce enriched uranium in Peterborough. The public feels unconsulted, especially in the neighbourhood. And they are currently in an uproar.’”
This morning, the Peterborough Examiner reports that, “The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission announced Wednesday it has approved renewal of the nuclear fuel facility operating licence for the General Electric-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. plant in Peterborough… (But) the licence does not allow the plant to use or possess low-enriched uranium, which has been a subject of concern for some neighbours and activists in the community. The decision follows public hearings held Sept. 30 and Dec. 9 in Ottawa. Several opponents from Peterborough spoke out during those hearings.”
On December 24, the Peterborough Examiner reported that, “A decision preventing GE-Hitachi Nuclear Canada from producing low-enriched uranium fuel is sitting well with concerned Prince of Wales Public School parents, neighbours of the Peterborough plant and local activists. …Roy Brady, chairman of the Peterborough chapter of the Council of Canadians, said the parents and neighbours are happy with the ruling. ‘The low enriched uranium decision is so important to the GE neighbourhood, parents and children attending Prince of Wales elementary school,’ Brady said. ‘The message to GE is clear. If you don’t talk with the people, especially the parents of the school across the road, then perhaps you aren’t going to get what you want.'”
Today’s news can be read at http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2902912.
The transcript for the December 9 hearing can be read at http://www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/commission/pdf/2010-12-09-Transcript-HearingGE-Hitachi.pdf.
Congratulations to Roy Brady, the Peterborough-Kawarthas chapter, and everyone who worked on this.
