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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-05-27, Page 1414 News Record • Wednesday, May 27, 2015 all, tip* II nwmo •• nwmo NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION SOCIETE DE GESTION DES DECHETS NUCLEAIRES WHAT IS CANADA'S PLAN? I Q. What is Canada's plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel? A. Canada's plan involves the construction of a national repository for the long-term management of Canada's used nuclear fuel, which is a solid waste product from the generation of electricity in nuclear power plants. It also involves the development of a used fuel transportation system and construction of a Centre of Expertise that will be a hub for national and international collaboration. Canada's plan is called Adaptive Phased Management (APM). The plan requires that used nuclear fuel be contained and isolated in a deep geological repository in a suitable rock formation. Used fuel will be safely and securely contained and isolated from people and the environment in the repository using a multiple -barrier system. This approach is the culmination of more than 30 years of research, development and demonstration of technologies and techniques in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. A fundamental tenet of Canada's plan is the incorporation of learning and knowledge at each step, to guide a process of phased decision-making. The plan builds in flexibility to make adjustments if needed. The plan will be implemented over several decades. Over this period of time, we may experience changes in the values and preferences of Canadian society, and advancements in knowledge and technologies. APM is designed to be flexible to ensure new learning and social priorities are incorporated in Canada's plan and to allow this plan to adapt to other changes we may encounter along the way. The site selection process that is currently underway is designed to ensure that any community that is selected to host this high-technology, national infrastructure facility is both informed about the project and willing to host it. The project will only proceed with the involvement of the interested community, First Nation and Metis communities in the area, and surrounding communities working together to implement the project. Q. How was this plan developed? A. The design of APM emerged through a three-year study and dialogue with Canadians about a range of management options (2002-2005). The study engaged thousands of citizens, specialists, and Aboriginal peoples in every province and territory. The plan was selected as Canada's plan by the Government of Canada in 2007. Many thousands more have since engaged to shape the siting process and implementation of the plan. Q. Why is this plan neaded? A. For decades, Canadians have been using electricity generated by nuclear power reactors in Ontario, New Brunswick and Quebec. When used nuclear fuel is removed from a reactor, it remains a potential health risk for many hundreds of thousands of years and must be safely isolated from people and the environment, essentially indefinitely. Today, Canada's used nuclear fuel is safely stored on an interim basis at licensed facilities located where it is produced. Like many other countries with nuclear power programs, Canada is planning for the future. The NWMO has heard from Canadians that this generation has an ethical responsibility to advance the plan, believing it to be imprudent and unfair to leave to future generations. Ensuring the long-term, safe and secure management of used nuclear fuel is an important responsibility we, as Canadians, share. Kathryn Shaver is Vice -President of APM Engagement and Site Selection at the NWMO. She played an active role in the collaborative development with Canadians of Canada's plan for managing used nuclear fuel over the long term. "Ask the NWMO" is a communication feature that will be published on a regular basis in the Clinton News Record to respond to readers' questions about Canada's plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization welcomes your questions. Please forward your questions to askthenwmo©nwmo.ca or call us at 416.934.9814. www.nwmo.ca Local athletes impress at WOSSAA track meet Laura Broadley Clinton News Record Four local athletes showed their skill over two days at the Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (WOSSAA) track meet. The meet was held on May 21-22 at the TD Water- house in London. Mitchell Heyink, Nicole Tamming and Martina Tait are students at St. Anne's and Mackenzie Berard cur- rently attends Central Huron Secondary School. All four athletes will attend the Ontario Federa- tion of School Athletic Asso- ciation (OFSAA) west regional competition on May 29-30 at the TD Waterhouse. WOSSAA results: Mitchel Heyink Fifth in the senior boys 1500 metre with a personal and season best of 4:11:30. Mackenzie Berard Tenth in the junior boys 1500 metre with a personal best of 4:42.90. Fifth in the junior boys 800 metre with a personal best of 2:13.60. Nicole Tamming Eighth in the junior girls 400 metre with a season best of 1:03.47. Third in the junior girls 800 metre with a season Contributed photos Martina Tait advances to OFSAA in both the junior girls 1500 and 3000 metre events. best of 2:34.00. Martina Tait Second in the junior girls 1500 metre with a personal Nicole Tamming placed third in the junior girls 800 metre event. best of 5:11.99. Second in the junior girls 3000 metre with a personal best of 11:08.05. Central Huron student Mackenzie Grade 11 student at St. Anne's, Mitchell Heyink (centre) placed Berard placed fifth in the junior fifth in the senior boys 1500 metre event. boys 800 metre event.