This week CKDR News looks into a proposal to store nuclear waste in northwestern Ontario.
Ear Falls and Ignace are two communities that have expressed an interest.
Reporter Shannon Gwynne was in Toronto on a fact-finding mission and she had a chance to tour the Darlington Nuclear Facility and speak with members of Nuclear Waste Management of Ontario.
Gwynne files her first report.
“Nuclear Waste Management of Ontario is in the beginning stages of looking for a community to host a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.
NWMO Communications Manager Mike Krizank says they contacted communities across Canada that there will be an opportunity to store nuclear waste.
Krizank notes there are 21-communities who came forward.
He stresses that none of the communities have committed to hosting the project, noting they have only asked for more information.
Krizank says that they are still in the very early stages of determining what’s going to happen 10 to 20-years from now.
He notes they will begin to narrow down communities later this year, adding that significant studies will continue for another 5-years.
Krizank says the community as a whole must express a willingness to support the project and notes it must be a super majority.
He notes that can be determined through a referendum.
The project comes with a construction phase of 10-years and the project wouldn’t be operational for an additional 25-years.”
