A motion coming before Bruce County Council next week asks for councillors to support the concept of a deep geological repository (DGR) as a matter of settled science.
However, a local group opposed to the plan to store used nuclear fuel in a repository carved out of rock deep underground has stressed the matter is not settled.
Bill Noll, vice president of Protect Our Waterways - No Nuclear Waste, calls the vote premature. He said the decision on whether to locate the DGR in South Bruce or Ignace will not be made until 2023, and pointed out that the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) refers to their own process as “Adaptive”, not settled.
He continued that Mayor Buckle, who represents the lower tier Municipality of South Bruce at county council, has stated on numerous occasions that, “no decision has been made by the South Bruce council to proceed with the project at this time.” He added South Bruce residents have all been told they need to be “willing to listen” and “learn more”, in order to make a truly informed decision about the storage of highly radioactive spent fuel in the community.
A media release from the organization Tuesday said the CNSC representatives at a recent Bruce County Executive Council meeting provided some excellent information but also informed the members that the CNSC has not performed their evaluation regarding the safety and suitability of a DGR in the South Bruce community.
1,600 residents of South Bruce signed a petition in early 2020 opposing the DGR.
“We hope Mayor Buckle acknowledges this fact and provides the Bruce County Executive Council with the same recommendation that he has requested of the residents of South Bruce which is “to become more informed before they make a decision” said Michelle Stein, president of Protect Our Waterways - No Nuclear Waste.
