Manitouwadge Delegation NWMO Tour? What They Will See & Do – Learning About Nuclear Energy

Written by admin on 27 July 2012

The Government of Canada selected Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel in June 2007. The approach, called Adaptive Phased Management, involves the development of a large infrastructure project in an informed and willing host community. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is federally mandated to implement this project and is beginning the multi-year process for selecting an informed and willing community to host this national facility.

The NWMO is providing an opportunity for interested communities to learn more about Canada’s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel, the activities of the NWMO, and the process it will use to select an informed and willing community to host this project. It is VERY IMPORTANT for people to note that communities that express interest in learning more are NOT obliged to participate in the site selection process. The site ultimately selected for the project must meet a robust set of technical safety requirements.

Manitouwadge Town Council passed a motion to participate in the “Learn More” process for a variety of reasons, not the least among them, the fact that several neighbouring communities are in this process, and so for a plethera of reasons it makes good sense to be educated regarding what it is those communities may be considering in regards to the potential deep geological repository.

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Representatives who presented information to Northwestern Ontario Media during their tour in January. The Manitouwadge representatives were also travelling to Ottawa to visit the CNSC offices and receive information. Photo OntarioNewsNorth.com

As part of the ongoing process of learning more about the NWMO, and having their questions answered in regards to adaptive phased management, used nuclear fuel and the many related issues, a delegation of 9 representatives from Manitouwadge; employees of the Township, Economic Development Corporation Board members and Council members departed on a trip funded by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to Toronto, Ottawa and Darlington. Mayor John MacEachern, Councillor Natalie Labbee, Councillor Sheldon Plummer, Twp Treasurer Margaret Hartling, Twp Clerk Cecile Kerster, Fire Chief/Airport Manager Owen Cranney and MEDC Board Members Jim Moffat and Grant Goodwin are on an intense 2 day tour of the NWMO offices in Toronto, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s offices in Ottawa and the Darlington Nuclear Facility.

The tour is very similar to the one OntarioNewsNorth.com Editor Karina Hunter took in February with colleagues from other Northwestern Ontario media. It provides not only a wealth of information in regards to every aspect of the current nuclear energy industry in Canada and plans for future adaptive phased management of used nuclear fuel but also an open forum for those attending to query industry professionals and those overseeing the safe use and storage of nuclear energy and used nuclear fuel in Canada. Those who have travelled representing Manitouwadge’s Council, Township and Business Community will return able to share information and answer the questions which people have begun to ask.

Dry storage of used nuclear fuel at the Pickering Nuclear Plant. Photo courtesy NWMO

At the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station the delegation will have an opportunity to see how used nuclear fuel is currently dealt with and stored in Canada, this includes ‘dry storage’ as members of the media, and past delegations from neighbouring communities, had observed at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.

About Darlington Nuclear Generating Station from Wikipedia: The Darlington station is a large nuclear facility and comprises 4 CANDU nuclear reactors located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, having a total output of 3,512 MWe (capacity net) when all units are online. It provides about 20 percent of Ontario’s electricity needs, enough to serve a city of two million people. It is arguably one of the most advanced nuclear generating stations in the world. (CLICK HERE to read the full post on Wikipedia)

During the Northwestern Ontario Media Tour in January, OntarioNewsNorth.com Editor Karina Hunter spoke with Don Howard, Director of Wastes and Decommissioning Division Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Mr. Howard is one of the people the Manitouwadge representatives would hear a presentation from in Ottawa and be able to present their questions to. Some of which might be similar to those I asked including how the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is watching what is being done in regards to nuclear waste management in other countries. (Click play on the video below to watch that interview).

Next week, OntarioNewsNorth.com looks forward to bringing you interviews with those who attended the NWMO Tour on behalf of Manitouwadge; let us know in the comments below whom you would most like to hear from (see list of attendees above).