Township of Schreiber confirms interest to learn more about Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel
SCHREIBER, ON – At its meeting on January 25, 2011 the Township of Schreiber confirmed its interest to learn more about Canada’s plan for the long term management of used nuclear fuel. The plan requires that the used nuclear fuel be safely and securely contained and isolated from people and the environment in a deep geological repository in a suitable rock formation. A resolution to learn about the plan and to request an initial screening of the community was passed by the previous Township Council in September 2010.
In June 2007, the Government of Canada selected Adaptive Phased Management as Canada’s plan for safeguarding the public and environment over the very long time in which used nuclear fuel must be managed. In May 2010, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) published a process for identifying an informed and willing community to host the project.
The $16 to $24-billion national infrastructure development will have a significant impact on any community and region in which it is located. It is a highly regulated, multi-generational project which will provide thousands of jobs in a host region and hundreds of jobs in a host community for many decades.
The NWMO anticipates that it will take between seven and ten years to decide on where to locate the deep geological repository and associated facilities. Ultimately, there will have to be a compelling demonstration of willingness expressed by the citizens of any interested community after a long period of site assessment, and learning about the project, before it is selected to host the project.
In the coming months, Township of Schreiber representatives will visit Toronto to meet with the NWMO to receive a detailed briefing on project and the site selection process and to visit a nuclear waste management facility, where used nuclear fuel is currently stored on an interim basis. The ‘learn more’ opportunity will be funded by the NWMO.
In addition, in order to help members of the community learn about Adaptive Phased Management, the deep geological project and the site selection process, the Township has asked the NWMO to create an information kiosk where people can drop by and pick up material at their leisure. Backgrounders on various topics will be available and a touch screen television will be installed where people can watch animated videos of the project and on nuclear fuel transportation.
The request to provide information in the community does not commit the Township to the project. Schreiber as a whole community must clearly demonstrate that it is willing to host the repository. This is not something that can be rushed. Over the coming months should the community decide to continue with the process, it will be critical that decisions be based on an understanding of the best scientific and social research available. Citizens are encouraged to take the opportunity to learn more about this project and become involved in the decision-making process.
For more information about the NWMO, and the site selection process, please visit:
www.nwmo.ca/sitingprocess
Canada’s Plan for the Long-Term Management of Used Nuclear Fuel –
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel?
In 2007, the Government of Canada selected Adaptive Phased Management as the plan for safeguarding the public and the environment over the very long time in which Canada’s used nuclear fuel must be managed. The cornerstone of this plan is containment and isolation of Canada’s used nuclear fuel in a deep repository constructed in a suitable geological formation, in an informed, willing community. The plan will be implemented over many years through a process of phased and adaptive decision-making, guided by citizen engagement and the most advanced knowledge and expertise.
What facilities will be constructed?
This national infrastructure project will involve the development of a deep geological repository with placement rooms for used nuclear fuel, approximately 500 metres underground. Supporting this repository will be an underground demonstration facility, surface buildings and a centre of expertise that will become a hub for national and international scientific collaboration.
How much land is required?
The project will require a dedicated surface area of about 100 hectares (250 acres) for the surface buildings and associated facilities. The underground repository itself will require a subsurface area in suitable host rock of approximately 2.5 kilometres by 1.5 kilometres (375 hectares/930 acres) at a depth of about 500 metres.
How will people and the environment be protected?
A multiple-barrier system will safely contain and isolate the used nuclear fuel. The repository and containers for used fuel are designed to provide multiple engineered barriers using robust, corrosionresistant materials. A further barrier is provided by the host rock in which the repository is built. The geology provides the principal barrier between the used fuel containers and the surface environment.
Many years of investigation will be involved in demonstrating that the geology in that location meets strict technical safety requirements. Once placed in the repository, the used nuclear fuel will be monitored and retrievable.
How will the project be regulated?
The project will be subject to a thorough and comprehensive regulatory review process to ensure that it is implemented in a manner that protects the safety of people and the environment, now and in the future. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will review and assess the project and site locations, and ultimately will be responsible for issuing licences authorizing the project to proceed to different phases of its life cycle development. The Government of Canada, through Natural Resources Canada, monitors the NWMO on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with the
Nuclear Fuel Waste Act.
