HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-04-29, Page 9Wednesday, April 29, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 9
The NWMO and Huron -Kinloss
Learning Together
APRIL 2015
Residents Learn More About Phase 2 Assessments
Huron -Kinloss and area residents
recently had an opportunity to learn
more about Canada's plan for the
long-term management of used
nuclear fuel and the next steps in the
site selection process at an open
house held in Lucknow on March 30
and 31. The Nuclear Waste
Management Organization (NWMO)
shared information about the project
and the next phase of work.
Staff members from the NWMO
were on hand to encourage people to
share their thoughts on the project
and participate in the planning of
activities for the next phase of more
intensive studies and engagement.
Phase 2 Activities
Huron -Kinloss is advancing to
Phase 2 assessments, which will, in
further detail, assess the suitability of
the community to safely host a deep
geological repository for used nuclear
fuel. The open house provided
community members with the
opportunity to discuss these activities
that may include:
» Observing general geological
features for mapping purposes;
« Environmental studies;
» Preliminary borehole drilling; and
« 2-D seismic survey to provide
images of the underground layers.
Specific work plans will be developed
together with the community.
"We have committed to developing
the scope, location and sequence of
Phase 2 field studies in collaboration
with community members," said Paul
Austin, Relationship Manager for the
NWMO. "The open house was an
opportunity to continue that dialogue."
Ricardo Gerdingh of the Huron -Kinloss Nuclear Waste Community Advisory Committee
discusses Canada's long-term plan for the safe management of used nuclear fuel with
Mark Gobien and Mike Krizanc from the NWMO during a recent open house.
What Is Used Nuclear Fuel?
FUEL PELLET
FUEL PENCIL
FUEL BUNDLE
NUCLEAR REACTOR
0.5 m
Each CANDU fuel bundle is about
the size and shape of a fireplace log.
Used nuclear fuel is a by-product of
electricity generation by nuclear
power plants. Canadian nuclear
power plants are fuelled by uranium
pellets that are sealed inside
zirconium tubes and arranged into fuel
bundles. The bundles remain in the
reactor for about 15 to 18 months,
producing heat for the generation of
electricity. Heat is created through
the splitting of uranium atoms — the
technical term for this process is
fission. Once removed, the bundle is
highly radioactive and must be
carefully managed for a very long
period of time, essentially indefinitely.
The Nuclear Fuel Pellet
Fuel pellets are made from uranium
dioxide powder, baked in a furnace to
produce a hard, high-density ceramic.
Ceramics do not readily dissolve in
water and are resistant to wear and
high temperatures.
The Fuel Pencil
Fuel pellets are contained and isolated
in sealed zircaloy metal tubes. These
strong, corrosion -resistant tubes are
called fuel pencils. They are welded
together into a cylindrical fuel bundle.
The Fuel Bundle
Fuel bundles are roughly the size
of a fireplace log and weigh about
24 kilograms. When operational in a
nuclear reactor, each fuel bundle
generates enough electricity to power
up to 100 homes for a year.
The Reactor
Each reactor has hundreds of fuel
channels that each holds 12 or 13 fuel
bundles, placed end to end. Reactors
such as those used in Canada are
called CANDU reactors for Canada
Deuterium Uranium. They were
invented in Canada, and use uranium
as fuel and heavy water as a
moderator to control the amount of
heat needed to generate the
electricity.
Nine Communities in Site Selection Process
The Township of Huron -Kinloss is one of nine Ontario communities continuing to learn more about
Adaptive Phased Management (APM), Canada's plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel.
Other communities in Phase 2 of Preliminary Assessments are Blind River, Elliot Lake, Hornepayne,
Ignace, Manitouwadge, South Bruce, and White River.
Central Huron is taking part in Phase 1 studies.
)) You Asked the NWMO...
Q Who is the NWMO?
A. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a Canadian not-for-profit
company, established by Canada's nuclear electricity producers, with specialized
expertise in long-term nuclear waste management.
The NWMO is responsible for implementing Adaptive Phased Management (APM). This
is the approach selected by the Government of Canada for the long-term management
of Canada's used nuclear fuel bundles.
The NWMO's mandate comes from the federal 2002 Nuclear Fuel Waste Act. The
NWMO provides annual reports to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, who
tables the reports in Parliament. The NWMO's reports are made public at the same time
they are submitted to the minister.
Preliminary Assessments, completed in two phases, are the third of nine steps in a multi-year
process for evaluating the potential suitability of any area to host a deep geological repository and
an associated Centre of Expertise.
Additional information can be accessed at www.nwmo.ca/sitingprocess_phase1
_completedassessments.
)) Of Note...
))
The Huron -Kinloss Nuclear Waste Community Advisory Committee has a website and
publishes its meeting schedule and minutes. Meeting details, agendas and minutes can
be accessed at www.huronkinloss.com/nuclear-waste-committee-ab.cfm.
Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings.
For more information about Canada's plan for the long-term management of used
nuclear fuel, please visit the NWMO's online exhibit at www.nwmo.ca/exhibit.
nwmo
NUCLEAR WASTE
MANAGEMENT
ORGANIZATION
SOCIETE DE GESTION
DES DECHETS
NUCLEAIRES
For more information about the NWMO and Canada's plan for the
long-term management of used nuclear fuel, please visit:
www.nwmo.ca
)1