nuclear-news

Shipping dead nuclear reactors across Great Lakes – a dangerous precedent

One of the major concerns is that if this transport goes ahead, it will pave the way for further similar shipments with little government or environment oversight.

Hundreds of municipalities across Ontario, Quebec, U.S. and the U.K. and Sweden have publicly opposed the shipment, citing concerns over the potential for radioactive material to leak into water systems.

Controversial nuclear shipping plan remains on hold Vanvouver Sun, By Linda Nguyen, Postmedia News December 20, 2011 TORONTO — A controversial plan to ship 16 decommissioned nuclear steam generators across Ontario’s Great Lakes and eventually to Sweden for recycling continues to remain on hold, nearly two years after it was first proposed.

This week, Bruce Power, Canada’s only private nuclear power operator,
said there was no update on what it will do with the school bus-sized
generators left over from a refurbishment of its Bruce A nuclear
reactor…….If a decision is not made soon, Bruce Power will lose
two licences approved by Canadian Nuclear and Safety Commission (CNSC)
allowing for the transport of the 1,760 tonnes of radiation-laced
steel to be moved through Ontario roadways to the Great Lakes, up the
St. Lawrence Seaway and across the Atlantic Ocean….
The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, one of the groups opposed to the
shipment, says it has yet to be contacted by Bruce Power nearly nine
months later.

Meanwhile, the Sierra Club Canada and the Canadian Environmental Law
Association, filed for a judicial review of the proposed shipment with
the Federal Court. The Ottawa court will hear the case in March 2012.

The groups argue that the CNSC should have done an environmental
assessment of the proposed transport. One was done when Bruce Power
originally indicated they wanted to keep the generators on-site, but
the regulator did not order a second review once those plans
changed…..
One of the major concerns is that if this transport goes ahead, it
will pave the way for further similar shipments with little government
or environment oversight.

“Basically, by Bruce Power making an indirect application to do one
thing — they’re actually changing Canadian policy on nuclear waste
storage, transportation, and recycling and certainly that warrants a
lot of further investigation,” he said.

Hundreds of municipalities across Ontario, Quebec, U.S. and the U.K.
and Sweden have publicly opposed the shipment, citing concerns over
the potential for radioactive material to leak into water systems.

Gordon Edwards, co-founder of the Montreal-based Canadian Coalition
for Nuclear Responsibility, said recycling the generators will mean
that the radioactive-laced metals — however minimal — will be mixed in
with metals used to make consumer goods.
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Controversial+nuclear+shipping+plan+remains+hold/5889128/story.html

December 21, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, safety