Know Nuclear Waste

Send a message to Seamus O'Regan, Minister of Natural Resources: New nuclear is NOT part of the path to net zero.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) will have their "Mobile Learn More Centre" in to communities throughout South Bruce. September 22 to September 29 (excluding Sunday) with hours of operation from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

Darlene Necan is walking from Ignace to Savant Lake and Sioux Lookout, Ont., to raise awareness about a proposed nuclear waste repository. One woman's concern over a proposed nuclear waste repository near Ignace, Ont., means she will walk hundreds of kilometres to raise awareness about the project. For the past decade, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has engaged the Township of Ignace, and eight nearby First Nations to determine if the area is interested in hosting the repository.

In August the NWMO held a series of virtual workshops, purportedly collecting input into environmental base line monitoring. Now that municipal facilities have re-opened the NWMO will be hosting small in-person workshops on the following days: September 21, 2020 7:00pm 9:00pm Mildmay Community Centre; September 22, 2020 9:00am 11:00am Formosa Hall; September 22, 2020 7:00pm 9:00pm Teeswater Community Centre

What's most interesting about this article is its acknowledgement of how much is still unknown about the fate - and release - of radionuclides contained in the nuclear waste that organizations like the NWMO are proposing be placed in deep geological repositories. Far from the "demonstrated safety" the NWMO claims, actual research provides windows into how much is unknown.

Finland's research programme is based on the Nuclear Energy Act (990/1987) according to which the aim of research is "ensuring that the authorities have such sufficient and comprehensive nuclear engineering expertise and other facilities at their disposal that are needed for comparisons of the various ways and methods of carrying out nuclear waste management.

Low Dose Ionizing Radiation Shown to Cause Cancer in Review of 26 Studies. The US National Cancer Institute has dedicated an entire volume of its scientific journal, Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, to the impact of low doses of radiation on cancers (July 2020)

Another excellent letter from a South Bruce resident; "Why are so many South Bruce residents WILLING to contribute their own money to take on a billion dollar special interest group with one mandate, to store nuclear waste? Because many of us do not want to be steam rolled into burying the worlds most dangerous waste beneath our feet. Remember that report I referenced? On page 21 under section 4.1 heres what NWMO says about the inevitable storage failure of the DGR When the containers eventually fail by corrosion as a result of ground water ingress into the repository, waste constituents can migrate out of the disposal facility and enter the biosphere. The report then goes on to list all the ways in which the repository will eventually fail. Wow!"

About 100 South Bruce Residents who oppose an underground repository for used nuclear fuel gathered recently at a fundraiser for the Protect Our Waterways No Nuclear Waste organization.

NWMO hired consultants Golder Associates to study possible changes in precipitation patterns. Based on a multi-model assessment of publicly available data, the Golder Associates study found that both one-day probable maximum precipitation and one-day rainfall events in the Ignace study area are projected to increase in the 2050s and 2080s. https://www.tbnewswatch.com//climate-change-would-affect-p

Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO) is seeking input from the public to help guide and shape its plans for the transportation of used nuclear fuel from reactor sites to a deep geological repository in the 2040s. [Source: World Nuclear News, 18 August 2020]

The NWMO is holding another "virtual information session as part of their campaign to win the hearts and minds of the people of South Bruce: "Tailored to residents of South Bruce, this second information session will focus on the multiple barrier system, a series of engineered and natural barriers will work together to contain and isolate used nuclear fuel to protect people and the environment."

The NWMO's newest infommercial was posted to YouTube on August 11th. Might serve as a good starting point in an exercise in unbundling the NWMO messaging.

The people of South Bruce continue to show their opposition to the NWMO's investigation of their community as a possible burial site for all of Canada's high level nuclear waste.

WELLINGTON COUNTY A group fighting a proposed nuclear waste dump in South Bruce has enlisted the help of local environmental advocacy group the Wellington Water Watchers (WWW). Protect Our Waterways No Nuclear Waste announced the partnership in a joint press release with WWW on Aug. 4. Officials say WWW will do everything it can to help stop the proposed nuclear waste dump proposed in South Bruce by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).

The NWMO is holding online "environmental workshops" for South Bruce residents August 10th, 11th and 12th (notice arrived in mailboxes in South Bruce on August 6th). Also, the notice indicates that the NWMO would like to hold small in-person workshops August 24th-25th.

No Nuclear Waste is partnering with Wellington Water Watchers to prevent the establishment of a used nuclear fuel bunker in South Bruce.

The NWMO's Community Liaison Committee in South Bruce will be holding their next CLC meeting - August 6th, the 75th Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima - via Zoom. 7 pm, online.

The comparison is made that cows and nuclear reactors produce waste. The nutrients from cows are spread on the fields as a natural fertilizer to grow crops. This makes feed for the cows, a perfectly harmonious cycle. For high level nuclear waste, this is a much different story, only 3% of the fuel in the rods get used in the reactor. There is 97% of the energy left in the rod that we can not use and is highly toxic for 1 million years.

Organizers of a campaign to stop a high level radioactive waste Deep Geological Repository (DGR) in South Bruce say it has gained new momentum with a recent victory and hiring of a renowned environmental lawyer. However local environmental advocates caution the fight to keep radioactive material out of the South Bruce and the surrounding region is not over.

An excellent letter to the editor, providing a reliable review of the NWMO's not-so-reliable flyer published earlier in the Lucknow Sentinel.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization continues to push out "news" stories about their investigations of potential sites for the burial of all of Canada's high level nuclear fuel waste. The most recent appeared in Dryden Now over the weekend, and describes the NWMO as "continuing with remote technical studies for the Revell Batholith formation between Ignace and Wabigoon Lake, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.... Technical site evaluations and borehole drilling were suspende...d in April to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Geoscientific studies were underway to assess if the area is suitable for a deep geological repository for Canadas nuclear waste. Once health guidelines allow it, the NWMO says they plan to drill the fifth and sixth boreholes in the Ignace and Wabigoon Lake area, and are working to finalize two reports on the Ignace areas location." https://www.drydennow.com//technical-work-continues-for-nu See more

Have you signed on yet to Ottawa Riverkeepers petition to improve radioactive waste policy in Canada? Do so today! The petition and Riverkeepers campaign is primarily focused on non-fuel waste, particularly the proposed mega-dump proposed for Chalk River, on the Ottawa River, so it's not the full scope of failed federal radioactive waste policy - we know there are BIG problems with irradiated / high level fuel waste as well - but it is highlights important issues and the need for change. Sign today! https://www.ottawariverkeeper.ca//a-strong-policy-on-nucl/

Borehole testing is expected to begin this fall to assess the geological suitability of property in South Bruce for Canadas first underground nuclear waste storage vault, a project which promises jobs and opportunity but also has strong opposition. https://www.owensoundsuntimes.com//firm-hired-to-help-asse

Canadas Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (NWMO) has chosen Ontario-based Geofirma Engineering Ltd to drill and test initial boreholes in South Bruce. NWMO said borehole drilling and testing work is part of its site assessment programme, as we seek to further build our understanding of the geosphere at the potential repository site.

The campaign to stop the high level radioactive waste Deep Geological Repository (DGR) in South Bruce has gained new momentum with a recent victory and hiring of a renowned environmental lawyer.

Indigenous communities courted as nuclear industry looks for place to put used fuel - Nuclear Courtship, Part 1

Opportunity for youth, or sacrifice zone? Community reaction to nuclear waste burial plan is mixed - Nuclear Courtship, Part 1

"The Nuclear Waste Management Organization has selected an Ontario-based environmental and engineering company to drill and test initial boreholes in South Bruce."

Does it make sense to bury Nuclear Waste within the a Great Lakes Basin?

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has begun the process of re-opening their offices. The re-opening is starting with our Oakville proof test facility in June.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has re-opened their "Learn More Centres" in the Municipality of South Bruce and in the Township of Ignace.

"Notice of Termination - Ottawa June 26, 2020 The Minister of Environment and Climate Change has terminated the environmental assessment of the Deep Geologic Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Project (the Project) pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. Ontario Power Generation notified the Minister that it wishes to terminate the federal environmental assessment for the Project."

Seems fitting that the first media post of the Minister's response to the NWMO's triennial report is from 'Mirage News"

The final nail has been hammered in the coffin of the proposed Ontario Power Generations nuclear waste site. OPG has formally notified federal regulators it is ending plans for the Deep Geologic Repository

The NWMO is holding an "online information session" about their activities and interests in South Bruce. Registration via EventBrite required in advance, and it looks like questions have to be sent in advance as well, by email to [email protected].

NWMO says "Its still too early to determine when field work will resume at the Nuclear Waste Management Organization site in the Ignace area."