Review of Nuclear Waste Law Required

Nov 15, 2012

Review of Nuclear Waste Law Required

This post has not been approved by Media Co-op editors!

For Immediate Release 
Thursday, November 15th, 2012

Review of Nuclear Waste Law Required
National Alliance Calls for Major Changes in Decade Old Nuclear Fuel Waste Act

Toronto – On the 10th anniversary of a controversial law coming into force that could permit the burial of highly radioactive nuclear waste, a broad alliance of over thirty health, environmental, community and faith groups has issued an open letter to communities being studied as possible burial sites and is calling on the federal minister of Natural Resources to review the Nuclear Fuel Waste Act and to direct the Nuclear Waste Management Organization to be more open and accountable.

Nuclear Waste Watch, a network of 31 organizations from across five provinces, released a letter to federal Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver today, outlining concerns about the way the Nuclear Waste Management Organization is conducting itself as it carries out a search for a community willing to become the burial site for more than 50,000 tonnes of highly radioactive waste generated by nuclear power plants in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Over 90% of the waste is at reactors in Ontario.

In an open letter to communities being studied as possible burial sites, the signatories to Nuclear Waste Watch’s eleven-point position statement said they “share concerns about the long term safety of placing the nuclear waste in caverns deep underground” as well as concerns about the risks associated with  transporting radioactive wastes long distances and through communities along the way.

“Communities being studied as burial sites should know that they are not alone”, said Brennain Lloyd, Project Coordinator with Northwatch, a regional coalition in northern Ontario, where 12 communities are being studied as possible burial sites. “There are organizations and experts across Canada who have been tracking this issue for decades and can provide support in evaluating what the nuclear industry is telling them.”

“The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is engaged in a massive public relations program to convey the impression that the nuclear waste problem is solved when it is not”, commented Dr. Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.

Canada is one of several countries who have been studying the concept of burying nuclear waste for several decades. No country has yet constructed and begun operating an underground repository for the high level waste generated through the use of nuclear power.

Nuclear Waste Watch has launched a new web site at www.NuclearWasteWatch.net where they have posted the list of endorsing organizations and their letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and open letter to communities being studied as possible burial sites.
 

 –   30   –
 

Contact: 
Brennain Lloyd, Northwatch 705 497 0373             
Dr. Gordon Edwards, CDN Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility 514 489 5118 / 839 7214   
Theresa McClenaghan, Canadian Environmental Law Association 416 960 2284 
Shawn-Patrick Stensil, Greenpeace Canada 416 884 7053

News Release with additional quotes
Nuclear Waste Watch Position Statement (2012)
Nuclear Waste Watch members (2012)
Letter to the Hon. Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, 15 November 2012
Open Letter to Communities Under Investigation for Nuclear Waste Burial