Toronto (January 9, 2024) – Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) regrets the decision released today by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) accepting a proposal to put radioactive waste in a mound adjacent to the Ottawa River near Chalk River, Ontario.
CELA has participated since the very first public notice of this proposal and has expressed concern over the likelihood that radioactive contaminants would eventually make their way into the surrounding wetlands and the nearby Ottawa River.
CELA has also expressed a very high level of concern over the plans by Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories to put highly hazardous sources of radioactivity into that mound, including for example medical sources containing Carbon-14, to import more of such waste for placement in that mound, and to put a great deal of poorly classified waste from prior activities on the Chalk River site into the mound. This includes waste from previous experiments, research, and decommissioning of buildings used in the nuclear activities on the site over the decades.
CELA has submitted that a near-surface facility mound is an inappropriate design for permanent disposal of radioactive waste, and contrary to international guidance.
Today the CNSC issued a decision that allows the project to proceed. CELA is extremely disappointed with this decision as an inappropriate outcome for the protection of the environment and human health, including the ecosystems and people who rely on the Ottawa River system.
Stated Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, “In CELA’s view, the design of this facility is tantamount to an ordinary domestic landfill and we know that such facilities always eventually leak to the surrounding environment. Given that this facility is proposed to contain radioactive contaminants that would remain hazardous for thousands of years, CELA is highly concerned that this project has been given the go-ahead to proceed by the nuclear regulator.”
For more information, please contact:
Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director and Counsel – 416-960-2284, ex 7219 or theresa@cela.ca
Image courtesy of ©Orchidpoet via Canva.com
Media Release: CELA Regrets Decision by CNSC Regarding Radioactive Waste Site
Toronto (January 9, 2024) – Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) regrets the decision released today by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) accepting a proposal to put radioactive waste in a mound adjacent to the Ottawa River near Chalk River, Ontario.
CELA has participated since the very first public notice of this proposal and has expressed concern over the likelihood that radioactive contaminants would eventually make their way into the surrounding wetlands and the nearby Ottawa River.
CELA has also expressed a very high level of concern over the plans by Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories to put highly hazardous sources of radioactivity into that mound, including for example medical sources containing Carbon-14, to import more of such waste for placement in that mound, and to put a great deal of poorly classified waste from prior activities on the Chalk River site into the mound. This includes waste from previous experiments, research, and decommissioning of buildings used in the nuclear activities on the site over the decades.
CELA has submitted that a near-surface facility mound is an inappropriate design for permanent disposal of radioactive waste, and contrary to international guidance.
Today the CNSC issued a decision that allows the project to proceed. CELA is extremely disappointed with this decision as an inappropriate outcome for the protection of the environment and human health, including the ecosystems and people who rely on the Ottawa River system.
Stated Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, “In CELA’s view, the design of this facility is tantamount to an ordinary domestic landfill and we know that such facilities always eventually leak to the surrounding environment. Given that this facility is proposed to contain radioactive contaminants that would remain hazardous for thousands of years, CELA is highly concerned that this project has been given the go-ahead to proceed by the nuclear regulator.”
For more information, please contact:
Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director and Counsel – 416-960-2284, ex 7219 or theresa@cela.ca
Image courtesy of ©Orchidpoet via Canva.com
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