Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
6/27/2014
Michigan’s U.S senators sent a second letter last week to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to engage the Canadian government to stop the construction of a proposed low-level radioactive waste deep geologic repository near the Great Lakes. The two senators, Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.), previously wrote to Kerry last year seeking the State Department’s intervention into Ontario Power Generation’s proposed repository in Kincardine, Ont. which has drawn the ire of citizens on both sides of the border because of its proximity to one of the world’s largest sources of fresh water. “The Great Lakes are a highly valued resource to eight states and two countries,” the letter said. “The future health and prosperity of the Great Lakes is an extremely serious matter. We would appreciate a prompt response explaining how you plan to work with the Canadian government and the [International Joint Commission] to ensure that this nuclear waste repository is not built near the shores of Lake Huron.”
The senators’ call for the invocation of International Joint Commission has taken hold in Michigan. The state Senate unanimously passed a resolution two weeks ago that called on Kerry and President Barrack Obama to submit a letter of reference or to request a binding decision from the IJC, the inter-country organization established to settle disputes surrounding the Great Lakes. The senators’ lettered added: “We strongly urge you to work with the Canadian authorities to request that the IJC fully study and evaluate the proposed nuclear waste facility.” The State Department did not return calls for comment this week.
The proposed repository would be located beneath OPG’s Bruce nuclear facility. OPG plans on storing low and intermediate waste from its Bruce, Pickering, and Darlington power stations at the proposed repository, which would be located 680 meters (approximately 744 yards) below the surface in an isolated rock formation of shale and limestone. Currently, the licensing of the facility is under review by a Joint Review Panel under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. After the public comment period, the review panel will submit an environmental assessment report within 90 days to the federal Minister of the Environment with its recommendations for the path forward. Once the federal government gives the go-ahead, the review panel can issue a license to prepare a site and construct the facility.
