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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2016-01-27, Page 1818 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, January 27, 2016 Used fuel discussions in Bruce and Huron counties to enter screening process, with bore -holes possible Tom Patterson Postmedia Network Three local communities will see extensive evaluations for long-term nuclear fuel storage in 2016 and beyond. The sedimentary rock layers of Bruce and Huron counties are being researched as an option to contain the radioactivity by Canada's Nuclear Waste Management Organ- ization (NWMO), with Bruce Coun- ty's Huron -Kinloss, South Bruce and Huron County's Central Huron in the running as they enter the 'Initial Screening' during Step 2 of the 9 -step process. Practical, site testing and evalua- tion are planned in the coming months and years of the investiga- tion in the region, alongside other Canadian communities in the running. Like many other nuclear -pow- ered nations, Canada has chosen a scientific -based path to deal with its growing used fuel stockpile and southern Bruce and Huron counties are a part of that research under both a national, and international microscope. NWMO's Paul Austin said com- municating the safety case to the public is the biggest challenge, from the geological science, environmen- tal protection, project design and engineering to transportation of nuclear waste. "All these features need to be brought together so we can make a solid safety case," said Austin, who worked as a journalist for most of his career. Both Austin and Marie Wilson, another former journalist and nuclear waste consultant, staff the NWMO's 'Learn More' centres from 4111 ZO GODERICFI 519 524 7811 FOR MOVIE INFORMATION... www.mavieliniks,ca •-Nd .a,c01 ML1-265-343® 1 ATTENTION READERS Take ad anfagie o our pricing for HAPPY NOTES Includes: 1 irtitays, Mtliiii ersaries Weddin , Engagamts, Grrduat'Lius etc. HAPPY BIRTHDAY D:4V (Num nic Persolt' (Date) Love Mom Mid J Adual Size, Pre -Payment is Required . u I bung in ytut 4)1§01e iI, write-up rid well t{b Me (]Iter 9i7rj Pricin.POIRIA114471111q1191A. rdy $23.80 plus ELS 8 Main Street xpositor Seaforth, ON immummen (519) 527-0240 nancy.degans@sunmedia.ca seaforthhuronexpositor.com`' ea ort uronex.ositor.co its oca its er- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Ripley (Huron - Kinloss Wed -Fri), Teeswater (South Bruce Tues -Wed) and Clinton (Cen- tral Huron Mon -Wed) to provide information through interactive dis- plays, information boards and indi- vidual/group presentations. They both welcome invitations to present their information, and are planning presentations as the year pro- gresses, he said, with events like the 2015 Ripley Reunion demonstrated as a "busy time" for them to share their knowledge of the project. They plan to expand their out- reach even further in 2016. Austin said they want the public to get involved, ask questions and create an ongoing conversation to help the process evolve over time through social input. Regardless of the level of knowledge a person has on the topic, NWMO seeks to educate and inform through both visual means and literature they provide. Communicating the plan for safe transportation of used fuel has both garnered attention, and been a focus of communication by the NWMO. The organization, inde- pendent of the nuclear industry, continues to provide details about its technology and plans to the pub- lic via open houses, group presenta- tions, or scheduled visits to the Learn More centres. Five other communities in Ontario remain of the original 21 communities that volunteered, with 13 dismissed from the process due to factors ranging from location, to geology, to community support. Others still involved in northern Ontario include include the areas of Blind River/Elliot Lake, Hornepayne, Ignace, Manitouage and White River. Austin said bore hole drilling is a possibility for each of the communi- ties, along with sonar -like technol- ogy that can outline the geologic conditions in the region far better than what can be done in the Cana- dian Shield in the north. "If people see (test drill) rigs in their communities in 2016-2017, don't come to the conclusion the site has been picked," said Austin, who emphasized a final site selec- tion is years of consultation and research away. • • 1 ■ • • • • Brodhagen Chamber of Commerce DINNER & DANCE Saturday, February 13, 2016 Dianne & The Cavaliers Social 6 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Roast Beef with all the trimmings For Tickets: Roy 519-345-2209 Pauline 519-348-0940 Jim 519-345-2248 Advance tickets only by Feb. 8/16 Brodhagen Community Centre www.brodhagencommunitycentre.com • al ■ • • ■ • The new information will help lead the NWMO closer to a conclu- sion though, as it will be paired with data currently available from oil and gas exploration, and bore holes from Ontario Power Generation's low and intermediate nuclear waste deep geologic repository (OPG DGR) currently awaiting federal construction approval. Additional bore holes from new field studies would help confirm the consistency of the geologic conditions, as they change across the landscape. "Some info is available, but we have to be careful what we think we know is true," Austin said of the geology. "New field studies would be helpful and add a voice to our technology, so we can better under- stand and engage people:' Even if the three sites don't pass the next phase of research, for what- ever reason, the information gath- ered will be added to Canada's man- dated plan for the long-term management of nuclear fuel, an underground repository, chosen by the public through extensive research and consultation. Austin said the federal decision on the OPG DGR for low and inter- mediate nuclear waste at the Bruce nuclear site will play a role in deci- sion-making, (as it excludes nuclear fuel under order of a binding OPG - Municipality of Kincardine agreement.) The NWMO's plan is constantly changing due to technological and social changes, as it was designed. The Canadian organization is on par with other nations involved in an 'active site selection process' includ- ing the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Rus- sia, China, India and Japan, which have all choses geological reposito- ries as their option for long-term used fuel management. Austin said Finland is the furthest along in the world so far, having received its construction license for a nuclear fuel repository under the ocean, on Nov 12, 2015. Sweden as also selected a site and in imple- menting the process through nuclear regulators, and France is moving ahead with a site as well. "We're not alone," said Austin, who said each nuclear nation is shar- ing its research on nuclear reposito- ries, so all can be on equal ground in finding a nuclear waste solution. (elSEAFORTH OPTIMISTS 2016 CASH TRAVEL THE WORLD & LOTTERY WINNERS Early Bird January 18 - $300 Matt & Julie Shortreed $100 CONSOLATION RON & BETTY MCCALLUM GEORGE SMITH JACK MCLAUGHLIN "There is no competitive edge:' The United States, Mexico, Brazil, Netherlands, Ukraine, Italy and Korea have decided to build a DGR as their option, but are currently not in process. Nuclear -powered nations Bel- gium, Spain, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and Pakistan have yet to make a decision on their nuclear waste direction. Since 2011 the European Com- mission has asked member states to conduct reports on when, where and how it will construct and man- age repositories, which were to be implemented in 2015. Most recently Canada selected a new design for used nuclear fuel bundles to be copper -encased, and sealed within `radiation trapping' bentonite clay layers to be filled within constructed underground corridors. Austin said the technol- ogy would allow any Canadian community that is selected the abil- ity to construct the technologies needed, on-site, creating jobs and preventing additional transporta- tion costs. A `Centre of Excellence' will be part of the discussion for the com- munity that is selected, as it would become a facility employing techo- logical and social research dem- ostration programs, along with sci- entific research, engineering, geoscience, environmental, eco- nomic and cultural impact assess- ment of the so-called `Adaptive Phased Management (APM) pro- gram chosen to move forward as Canada's used nuclear fuel solution. It could also act as a training centre to help employ and retain local resi- dents that could number at about 700 jobs over multiple generations. "We could built the plant in Huron -Kinloss, or wherever, because Canada has the technology and resources to build these (nuclear fuel storage vessels);' Austin said. "We need to know what that's going to mean to these communities. It's a collaboration and we're relying on input from citizens." Lengthy discussions are still to be had on the social, economic and environmental impacts such a pro- ject could have over the thousands of years the waste remains radioac- tive. This is also an ongoing point of contention for opponents of nuclear waste storage in the Great Lakes basic, which the NWMO address as part their ongoing community outreach. AL:41111111101Vall gel 141044 itfi$ fit .16 ith. II C Make Your OWO qtrs. (-)-J!trlJrr, 7roitWro. (egarr ktv .37 dr Agirdi ort !.'4 kiu ;teen C i Eru -,�i 5 42323 AW439 3