Radioactive waste dump at Chalk River gets green light to start construction

A federal regulatory body has approved construction of acontroversial radioactive waste dump near the Ottawa River, upstreamfrom Ottawa and Montreal.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) wants to build an engineered mound or "near surface disposal facility" close to the company's nearly 80-year-old Chalk River site, about 190 kilometres northwest of Ottawa and about onekilometre from the river.

The facility would include containment cells,a base liner and cover, anda systemtodetect leaks, according toa project descripton.

Itis expected to containlow-level radioactive wasteincluding contaminated soil and building materials from decommissioned Chalk River activities,mops andprotective clothingused duringcleanup, andwaste fromsourcessuch ashospitals and universities.

In its Jan. 8 decision, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) determined the proposal "is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects" and that CNL had adequately consulted and accommodated Indigenous groups.

"The design of the [facility]is robust, supported by a strong safety case, able to meet its required design life, and sufficient to withstand severe weather events, seismic activity, and the effects of climate change," CNSC said in a news release issued Tuesday afternoon.

Water concerns

The broader Ottawa area isunceded Algonquin territory and leaders of 10of the 11 federally recognized Algonquin communities have objected to the project for years, saying they're concerned about contamination, sacred sites and what they characterize as thecommission's bias in favour ofthe industry.

The Algonquins of Pikwakanaganwere the only Algonquin community togaveits consent, and a formal partnership between the community and CNL was announced last year.

Environmental groups and communities that get drinking water from the riveralso spoke out against the project.

"I'm extremely disappointed in the decision," said Pontiac WardenJane Toller. "It was token listening on the part of the tribunal."

Toller said her main concern is the facility'sproximityto the river,especially given thesignificant flooding in recent years.

"We were asking for very little. We were just asking that it be stored further away because there can always be seepage. There can always be leaching," she said.

'Imperfect solution'

While the Ottawa Riverkeeper said there have been some improvements in waste storage, more needs to be done.

Laura Reinsborough called the proposed facility "an imperfect solution" to deal with the site's legacy waste, and also expressed concerns about itsproximity to the river.

Theresa McClenaghan, executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association, wrote in a statement that the facility's design is "tantamount to an ordinary domestic landfill and we know that such facilities always eventually leak to the surrounding environment."

Researchers with the Canadian Museum of Nature have also worriedthe site could threaten two endangered specieswithin the watershed.

The commission's decision saidthe facility is on a sloped rock ledge where water flows away from the river andis above itsmaximum flood level. Wastewater will be tested before being released, the commission said.

"We fully intend to meet all of our commitments to any Indigenous communities, organizations or local public in order to continue to address their questions, concerns as we move forward with the project," said Meggan Vickerd, CNL's deputy vice-president of waste and fuel programs.

The facility is expected to take about three years to construct. Once it's built, CNLmust once again seek the commission's permission before storing any nuclear waste there.

If approved, the mound's 50-year operational lifespanwould be followed bya 30-year closure phase anda 300-year post-closure phase based on "10 half-lives for short-lived radionuclides" ending aroundthe year 2400.

All in a Day9:55A federal regulator has given the green light to build a nuclear waste disposal site at Chalk River

We hear from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories about next steps, now that they've gotten this approval