nuclear-news

Neither did the Health Department invite opponents of the nuclear waste dump to share the podium with the pro-dump spokesmen.

“All I can say is that I am disappointed that it will not be a balanced and open forum,” said Patty Troy, co-chair of the Binational Public Advisory Council on the St. Clair River, charged with helping to reverse the pollution that led the river to be declared an “area of concern” by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1987.

“Our intent is not to end the discussion nor to stifle debate on this important issue,” said Dr. Annette Mercatante, the county’s medical health officer. “Rather it is to collect and disseminate relevant, factual information to people who are charged with the health and safety of our community.”

The presentation is scheduled for 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the county building in Port Huron.

“Because of the high level of interest concerning Ontario Power Generation’s construction and operation of a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for the long-term management of low and intermediate level nuclear waste, the St. Clair County Health Department has invited Kevin Powers and Mark Jensen to do a presentation explaining the project,” said the health department in its invitation……

Local environmentalists and anti-nuclear activists have taken issue with the health department’s exclusion of the public and experts opposing the project

“Since the Public Health Department is charged with protecting the public’s health, why have they waited until the 11th hour to get involved?” asked Kay Cumbow, an activist with Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination. Three years ago, Cumbow discovered and publicized OPG’s plan to ship radioactive nuclear generators from Ontario, through Lake Huron and the St. Clair River, all the way to Sweden for partial recycling, a plan since shelved. “Why are they shutting out the public, who will be the guinea pigs if this dump is approved? Why did they only invite those heavily invested in building the project to speak to St. Clair County officials?”…… http://www.voicenews.com/articles/2014/02/23/news/doc530783cb50542593871590.txt