Panel approval for OPG's DGR receives praise
By: Liz Dadson
May 7, 2015
The Joint Review Panel received praise for its approval of Ontario Power Generation (OPG)'s proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for low- and intermediate-level nuclear waste at the Bruce Nuclear site in the Municipality of Kincardine.
Kincardine mayor Anne Eadie (right) said the municipality is pleased with the decision, and stressed that an objective assessment of the proposal, including the extensive investigation into the geology of the proposed site, leads to the conclusion that the panel made a sound, informed decision.
“As mayor of the shoreline municipality of Kincardine, and as a passionate advocate of careful watershed stewardship, I am vitally concerned with protecting the integrity of Lake Huron," said Eadie. "This thorough review by experts has confirmed that the DGR solution is the right answer for the long-term management of low-level and intermediate-level nuclear waste at the Western Waste Management Facility.
"This project was first advocated by the municipality and has had the consistent support of the municipality and the community.”
Allan Thompson (below), the Liberal federal candidate in Huron-Bruce, said his preliminary assessment of the report is that it appears to address concerns about the safety case, local geology, the Great Lakes, long-term safety features, and the responsibility of OPG to manage this project.
“As someone who grew up just miles from the Bruce site, I have close relatives who were involved in the original construction at Douglas Point and numerous family members who have worked on site. For me, two things are of utmost importance: the continued safety and security of our communities, and my support for nuclear power as a safe, clean source of energy and as the economic backbone of our local community."
Thompson said he will be following this very closely to make sure that at every step this project is environmentally sound and ensures a safe and prosperous Huron-Bruce.
"For nearly half a century, the Liberal Party of Canada has supported safe and responsible nuclear energy production. From the earliest days at Douglas Point until today, Canada’s nuclear sector has been a source of innovation, commerce and energy – all produced in a zero emissions environment. After years of study, the DGR has been upheld as a safe, reliable and long-term solution to the secure storage of low- and intermediate-level waste, such as gloves and coveralls.
"The plan has been endorsed by the communities nearest to the proposed site and has been the subject of careful, thorough and independent study for a decade. While we respect the concerns raised by some, in the absence of hard evidence to the contrary, I will continue to support the nuclear energy sector and the creation of a responsible strategy to protect and store by-products and waste.
"To quote from the Joint Review Panel’s report, the proposed DGR ‘is an important, unique, precedent-setting project,’ and placing this waste in ‘an appropriately-located underground repository would pose a lower risk to human health and the environment than surface storage.’
"It is also clear that if the project is authorized by the federal minister of the environment to proceed to the next phase, there are likely to be conditions related to the project and also another opportunity for Aboriginal groups and others to comment.”
“As someone who grew up just miles from the Bruce site, I have close relatives who were involved in the original construction at Douglas Point and numerous family members who have worked on site. For me, two things are of utmost importance: the continued safety and security of our communities, and my support for nuclear power as a safe, clean source of energy and as the economic backbone of our local community."Thompson said he will be following this very closely to make sure that at every step this project is environmentally sound and ensures a safe and prosperous Huron-Bruce.
"For nearly half a century, the Liberal Party of Canada has supported safe and responsible nuclear energy production. From the earliest days at Douglas Point until today, Canada’s nuclear sector has been a source of innovation, commerce and energy – all produced in a zero emissions environment. After years of study, the DGR has been upheld as a safe, reliable and long-term solution to the secure storage of low- and intermediate-level waste, such as gloves and coveralls.
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