IGNACE – Currently, 3.3 million containers of nuclear waste fuel are being housed at nuclear power plants. By the end of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s implementation plan, there will be 5.5 million containers ready to be safe storage in long-term management and storage repositories across the province.
As outlined in the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s implementation plan, the priorities for the next five years are to implement a series of steps for safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel, which include finding a site that fits safety regulations for storage of the waste and a partnership with Indigenous people that coincide with reconciliation and knowledge of the land.
Two such sites being assessed are the Wabigoon-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario. However, there are plans to create additional sites within the region.
The ecological repository facilities will be 650 metres by 550 metres above ground, and the nuclear waste will be contained in a facility 550 meters underground. The nuclear waste bundles with be placed in bentonite clay with no access to the outside environment forever.
“The NWMO is implementing this national environmental infrastructure project on behalf of Canadians and Indigenous peoples. Public input is invaluable and helps steer our work, so we invite anyone interested to share their thoughts,” said Lisa Frizzell, vice-president of communications at the NWMO.
For those who don’t know, The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository to protect people and the environment for generations to come.
Founded in 2002, the NWMO has been guided for 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Keepers developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others are working together to implement it.
This year’s plan highlights a significant transformation in the NWMO’s upcoming work. It covers when we will reach the site selection milestone and move into the regulatory decision-making process.
Over this year, NWMO and the Wabigoon and Ignace leaders will work with potential host communities to define partnership and determine willingness. In 2023, we expect to select a preferred site for the deep geological repository.
Over the next five years, environmental baseline monitoring will inform NWMO’s work to prevent and mitigate any environmental impact. They will also continue to engage with Canadians and Indigenous peoples to transport used nuclear fuel to a central repository.
The Township of Ignace further states that the NWMO’s implementation plan is a living document that demonstrates its commitment to transparency. The plan is regularly assessed and strengthened with direction and guidance from public input, communities, advances in science and technology, insights from Indigenous Knowledge, changes in societal values and evolving public policy.
If you would like to share your thoughts on the implementation plan, an online survey will be available until June 10.
In addition to the online survey, you can also forward your comments to:
Nuclear Waste Management Organization Attention:
Lisa Frizzell, Vice-President of Communications
22 St. Clair Avenue East, 4th Floor Toronto, ON M4T 2S3,
Canada Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nwmo.ca/contactus
