SOS Welcomes Minister's Questions on Great Lakes Nuclear Waste Dump
SOS a leading opponent of Ontario Power Generation's plans to construct a nuclear waste dump on the shore of Lake Huron endorses the request from the Minister of the Environment for more detailed studies of the environmental impact of the project.
Toronto, February 19, 2016 (Newswire.com) - Save Our Saugeen Shores, a leading opponent of the plan to build an underground nuclear waste dump on the shore of Lake Huron today reacted with guarded optimism to the Canadian government’s request for more detailed information about the project from Ontario Power Generation announced Thursday afternoon.
“We welcome the Minister’s decision to request more information from OPG because the information she is asking for reflects many of our most fundamental concerns about this highly risky and potentially calamitous project,” Jill Taylor, President of SOS said following the Minister’s announcement.
"To select a site for a nuclear waste dump on the shore of the largest body of fresh water in the world purely on the basis of cost, redefines the terms irresponsible and reckless."
Jill Taylor, President, SOS
“We have maintained the site selection process was flawed, not only because no other sites were considered by OPG but also because of the questionable tactics used to create the illusion of public support for the project,” she said. “To select a site for a nuclear waste dump on the shore of the largest body of fresh water in the world purely on the basis of cost, redefines the terms irresponsible and reckless.”
OPG is seeking permission to dig a permanent nuclear waste dump within one kilometer of the shore of Lake Huron to store nuclear waste that will remain highly radioactive for more than 100,000 years. They claim the technology is proven, but global experience proves the contrary. All previous attempts to bury nuclear waste underground have failed to contain the highly toxic waste they were designed to isolate. If this nuclear waste dump were to leak, it could contaminate the Great Lakes for more than 100,000 years.
“Are we happy the Minister is asking these questions? You bet. But nowhere near as happy as we will be when common sense prevails and she brings an end to this incredibly dangerous and colossal folly” Ms. Taylor said.
“In the meantime, we will continue to do what the Joint Review Panel should have done in the first place; consult with the community and the people potentially impacted by the nuclear waste dump. I am not referring to the people of Kincardine who stand to benefit from some short-term jobs, but to the 40 million people of the Great Lakes basin who would have to live with this immense Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads for the next 100,000 years.”
SOS (Save our Saugeen Shores) is a non-profit group of Canadian and American citizens originally formed to fight the prospect of an underground nuclear dump in Saugeen Shores, the community immediately north of the proposed nuclear waste dump site. Having successfully defeated that prospect SOS turned their attention to opposing the proposed low and intermediate level nuclear waste dump OPG plans to build less than one kilometer from the shore of Lake Huron.