Radioactive Contaminated Wastes, Destined For Shipment Through Lower Great Lakes, Are Grounded – At Least For Now

By Doug Draper

Bruce Power, the operator of a nuclear power station in the Owen Sound area of Ontario, has put its shipment of radioactive-contaminated steam generators through the lower Great Lakes, including the Welland Canal, on hold.

Radioactive-contaminated wastes won't be shipped through Welland Canal, at least for now.

That’s according to t CBC and other media reports this May 17 that go on to say that it was objections from U.S. regulators, and not a regulator in Canada, that has put the shipments of this radioactive waste through our lower Great Lakes, and onward through the St. Lawrence River to Sweden on hold.

Great Lakes mayors, including mayors of Niagara municipalities around the Welland Canal, have spoken out against these shipments, and their concerns, along with those of others on the U.S. side of the border, have for now taken hold. But how long will they take hold?

There is reportedly a great deal of pressure being applied by nuclear industry parties to move forward with these shipments and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s stance, in contrast to that of U.S. officials) is that the risk they would pose to people and the environment is “negligible.”

So stay tune. We have not likely heard the last of this.

(Please share your comments on this issue below and visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to resident in our greater Niagara region and beyond.)

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.