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The Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-04-09, Page 3STEVEN GOETZ KINCARDINE NEWS CNSC geologist Julie Brown addresses a meeting of the township of Huron -Kinloss' Nuclear Waste Community Advisory Committee on Apr. 1. CNSC presents to Huron -Kinloss nuclear committee reps Steve Goetz Kincardine News The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) made a presentation to the advisory committee tasked with investi- gating a proposed underground nuclear waste site for Cana- da's spent nuclear fuel that could one day be built in the Township of Huron -Kinloss The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has not yet applied for a license to prepare the site or con- struct the so-called deep geologic repository (DGR) for high- level nuclear waste, but the nuclear regulator reached out to communities participating in the site -selection process to communicate the commission's responsibility to ensure the project is safe at the April 1, 2014 meeting. Julie Mecke, of the CNSC's Wastes and Decommissioning Division, made a formal presentation to the Nuclear Waste Community advisory Committee, saying the regulator was not their to promote the project or the nuclear industry. Mecke outlined the regulatory approval process, which will involved five licensing stages, each requiring CNSC approval: first, a license to prepare the site, then to construct, operate, decommission and abandon. "We are at stage zero right now," Mecke said. The CNSC has an agreement with NWMO to review any public communica- tions about the regulatory process to ensure their accuracy and to visit the communities being considered for the facility to explain the process and answer concerns, she said. Without a final site, the CNSC can only review components of the NWMO plan, she said. But the regulator has conducted its own research since the 1970s on the potential safety of underground long-term stor- age of nuclear waste. Julie Brown, a CNSC geologist, said the "technical consen- sus" supports the DGR concept as the most viable option 4.111A 4114, 4.64 r IWO V•41,041 1,44 tnir(ThT z::.61;01, Milk 'four Own Wale, (..w.'et AM.ret ititio sz Amid) cav ridiSitai St, MDR! CI -1524,2:M available for the long-term, safe storage of nuclear waste. The timeline of stable geology of the Cobourg rock forma- tion where the underground vaults would be carved out goes back 450 million years, Brown said. The principle being that if they knowwhat has happened going back at least 100 million years, they can make reasonable assumptions for the next million, she said. "We will not compromise safety," Mecke told the members and some members of the public who turned out to ask questions. Mecke noted that changes to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act passed in 2012 will see a different approval process than currently underway for the low- to medium - level DGR that Ontario Power Generation proposes for the Bruce nuclear site. That process gives licensing authority to an independent joint review panel, while the new process will see the CNSC conduct the review and have full authority to grant a license. Township of Huron -Kinloss council voted at its Mar. 17 meeting to amend the committee's rules to allow the public to ask questions. Jutta Splettstoesser asked about best practices for the project in the aftermath of a radiation leak at a nuclear stor- age facility near Carlsbad, New Mexico in February, which has been cited as a similar facility with a safe track record. Brown said the CNSC was in contact with American authorities and would have more to offer after an investiga- tion is completed. At the end of the presentation, Brown said the level of interaction with the public in the township will be deter- mined on requests for more information and invitations to make presentations. She said members of the public could also arrange visits to the CNSC headquarters in Ottawa for more thorough briefings. \NKritzeit,44amt Elmos Chad Mann 519-357-3015 www.kruzinmannlimos.com A Division of Lloyd Collins Construction Ltd. DOUG MILLER Certified General Accountant Accounting and tax services for LJ Individuals U Farmers Businesses 0 Corporations 86112 St. Helens Line Lucknow 519-528-2518 Wednesday, April 9, 2014 • Lucknow Sentinel 3 Lucknow Blood Donor clinic takes place Friday Ruth Dobrensky Lucknow News Another week closer to actual spring weather and it looks like spring may really be here. The snow is starting to recede and many birds and animals are starting to venture forth from their winter homes. Another sure sign is the number of deer being spotted out in the fields gleaning what food they can from last years left -over crops. All we can hope for now is no surprise April snow or ice storms, which as we all know, can certainly happen. There will be a blood donor clinic in Lucknow this Friday, go and give some blood if you are able to. Check out the coming events ads for Easter church services in our area, believe it or not, Easter is coming up fast. It seems that the recent Red Tent event attracted a number of people and was very successful. Congrats to the organizers. Police arrest 25 -year-old in connection with death of Hanover man Police have a 25 -year-old Hanover man in custody with charges pending in connection with the death of a 51 -year-old man. The suspect, who was not identified by police before the newspaper's print deadline, was held in custody for a bail hearing scheduled on Apr. 7. The 51 -year-old man, who has not been identified by police, was found after Hanover police were called about a disturbance at an apartment at 476 9th Ave. at 5:51 a.m on Sunday, Apr. 6. Officers discovered the man dead in the apartment with "obvious signs of trauma," the OPP said in a news release Sunday afternoon. A male suspect had fled the scene on foot through a back alley before the officers arrived, police said Sunday afternoon. The name of the deceased is being withheld until proper identification can be made and the next of kin has been notified. The Hanover Police Service has requested the assist- ance of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), West Region Crime Unit and Forensic Identification Unit (FIU). This investiga- tion is under the direction of Acting Detective Inspector Heidi Stewart, CIB. Police say anyone with further information can con- tact the Hanover Police Service at 519-364-2411, the Ontario Provincial Police at 1 888 310 1122 or their near- est police authority. Those who wish to remain anony- mous, can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where tips could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000. IT'S NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK! On behalf of Ihe girts in Ontario 7 ' THANK YOU! 4 ;Of For helping gIr r 10 aclideve greaines-B1 Make gfl uda DIffevarice. deg VOLUNTEER TODAY! gUidEISOgnariO.Cirg 1.8E10.565.8111