Saugeen Ojibway Nation votes against OPG's proposed DGR

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) has voted “No” to 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.

The vote was held Friday, and the results were: 1,058 voted No; 170 voted Yes; and there were four spoiled ballots.

In a press release, issued late Friday by OPG, the company states it remains committed to seeking safe and permanent disposal of nuclear waste

“OPG respects the decision of SON members,” said president Ken Hartwick. “We will now move forward to develop an alternate solution.”

The company agreed in 2013 that it would not build the DGR at the Bruce site, without the support of SON.

“OPG will explore other options and will engage with key stakeholders to develop an alternate site-selection process,” said Hartwick said. Any new process would include engagement with indigenous people as well as interested municipalities.

“Nuclear energy – as a non-emitting source of electricity – is a vital tool in fighting climate change,” said Hartwick said. “To enjoy the benefits of this low-carbon, low-cost and reliable source of energy with peace of mind, we must manage the waste responsibly. Permanent and safe disposal is the right thing to do for future generations.”

“Over the years, OPG and SON have been building a relationship based on mutual respect, collaboration and trust,” said Lise Morton, vice-president of OPG's nuclear waste management division. “We look forward to continuing this relationship.”

As OPG explores alternative solutions for permanent disposal, “a priority is our continuing efforts in waste minimization,” Morton said. This includes minimizing waste production at source, innovations in waste processing to reduce the volume, and recycling of clean materials.

Key facts on OPG and the DGR project:
 

• The DGR project, as submitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) in 2005, would have been built 680 metres below the Bruce site, in strong, dry and impermeable rock that has been isolated from the lake or any groundwater for hundreds of millions of years.
• OPG’s DGR at the Bruce site would have been for low- and intermediate-level waste from OPG-owned generating stations at Pickering, Darlington and Bruce.
• High-level waste, or used fuel, in Canada is destined for a separate DGR for which a site-selection process is under way, managed by a separate company, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
• The Municipality of Kincardine has been a willing-host community for OPG’s DGR since 2005. Four adjacent municipalities also passed resolutions to support the project.
• All across Ontario, OPG is committed to building and growing long-term, mutually-beneficial working relationships with First Nations and Métis communities near its current and future operations. In engaging with indigenous people, OPG aims to reflect best practice internationally in outreach, partnerships and capacity-building support.
• OPG is the largest electricity generator in the province, providing almost half the power Ontarians rely on every day. It is also one of the most diverse generators in North America with expertise in nuclear, hydro, biomass, solar and gas.