A warehouse could be built on the Chalk River Laboratories site in Ontario, 1 kilometer from the Ottawa River, that could ultimately contain up to 1 million cubic meters of “low-level radioactive waste.”
After years of analysis, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) gave its approval to the project on Tuesday, despite concerns from environmental and indigenous groups.
The Near-Surface Waste Management Facility (IGDPS) project, launched in 2015, is intended to store low-level radioactive equipment such as building materials and protective equipment. The facility will allow up to 1 million cubic meters of material to be stored under an artificial hill, or the contents of 400 Olympic-sized swimming pools with a depth of 2 meters.
Ultimately, 90% of the radioactive waste will come from Chalk River Laboratories and the remainder will be transported from other Atomic Energy of Canada facilities or come from hospitals or universities.
“The IGDPS project site is entirely within the permitted boundaries of the Chalk River Laboratories site and is located 1.1 km from the Ottawa River on a rocky ridge that slopes away from the river,” the CNSC highlighted.
Issue
The commission's green light still raises concerns, particularly among the Kebaowek First Nation.
The community fears the radioactive waste storage facility could contaminate nearby wetlands and the Ottawa River following, for example, an earthquake, forest fire or flood.
“I want to be clear: the Algonquin peoples have not consented to the construction of this radioactive waste dump on our unceded territory,” condemned Kebaowek chief Lance Haymond.