The Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-01-13, Page 3Wednesday, January 13, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 3
Troy Patterson/Editor
Nuclear Waste Management Organization's Paul Austin and Marie Wilson stand next to an interactive
display on Canada's plan for used nuclear fuel management at the Ripley 'Learn More' location. The
pair are available at various days throughout the week at locations in Teeswater, Ripley and Clinton,
central locations where each municipality is part of the screening process.
A computer graphic demonstrates a draft concept of a NWMO deep geologic repostitory for used
nuclear fuel, a minimum of 500 -metres underground.
Used fuel discussions to enter
screening process, with bore -holes possible
Troy Patterson
Editor
Three local communities will
continue 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 Cana-
da's Nuclear Waste Management
Organization (NWMO), with
Huron -Kinloss, South Bruce and
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 coun-
ties are a part of that research
under both a national, and inter-
national microscope.
NWMO's Paul Austin said com-
municating the safety case to the
public is the biggest challenge,
from the geological science, envi-
ronmental protection, project
design and engineering to trans-
portation 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 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Ripley
(Huron -Kinloss Wed -Fri), Teeswa-
ter (South Bruce Tues -Wed) and
Clinton (Central Huron Mon -Wed)
to provide information through
interactive displays, information
boards and individual/group pres-
entations. They both welcome
invitations to present their infor-
mation, and are planning presen-
tations as the year progresses, he
said, with events like the 2015 Rip-
ley 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
public via open houses, group
presentations, 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 loca-
tion, 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 commu-
nities, along with sonar -like tech-
nology that can outline the geo-
logic conditions in the region far
better than what can be done in
the Canadian 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.
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 Genera-
tion'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
understand and engage people:'
Bluewater District School Board
Welcomes You!
eff,-_ New or returning registrations
Semester 2 begins Friday February 2016
5th,
-4:1E1111. 11. I F:IML.
Make an appointment to discuss
exciting new opportunities in
our secondary schools
7 Specialized Programs
V Creative, Expanded Cooperative Education
V Apprenticeship
V Credit Recovery
V Diploma Completion
Bruce Peninsula District School (Lion's Head) (519)
793-3211
Chesley District Community School (Chesley) (519)
363-2344
Georgian Bay Secondary School (Meaford) (519)
538-1680
Grey Highlands Secondary School (Flesherton) (519)
924-2721
John Diefenbaker Senior School (Hanover) (519)
364-3770
Kincardine District Secondary School (Kincardine) (519)
396-9151
Owen Sound Collegiate & Vocational Institute (Owen Sound) (519)
376-2010
Peninsula Shores District School (Marton) (519)
534-2205
Saugeen District Secondary School (Port Elgin) (519)
832-2091
Walkerton District Community School (Walkerton) (519)
881-1780
West Hill Secondary School (Owen Sound) (519)
376-6050
�
�r��n� er Stadd e n t4 oda
troz de aned 4
Visit www.bwdsb.on.ca