Ontario Town to Make Decision on Hosting Nuclear Waste Repository
A town in northwestern Ontario is on the verge of making a critical decision today regarding the possibility of hosting a deep geological repository for Canada’s nuclear waste.
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is in the process of determining the location where millions of used nuclear fuel bundles will be stored in underground rooms connected by tunnels. This $26-billion project has narrowed down its options to two sites, one in northern Ontario and one in southern Ontario. Local municipalities and First Nations in those regions must agree to host the repository.
Today, the town of Ignace, situated between Thunder Bay and Kenora, will be the first of the four communities to reveal its decision at a special council meeting. A committee of community members will present a consultant report, community vote results, and a recommendation for or against hosting the repository before the council votes.
While neither of the First Nations has made their decisions yet, the municipality of South Bruce plans to hold a referendum in October.
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Canada’s current nuclear reactors are expected to produce 5.5 million used fuel bundles, with 3.2 million already stored on-site at nuclear plants. However, the existing containers are only designed for a 50-year lifespan, prompting the need for a long-term solution.
The NWMO, financed by nuclear power and waste-generating companies like Ontario Power Generation and Hydro-Quebec, plans to construct a deep geological repository deep underground, similar in depth to the CN Tower’s height.
The used nuclear fuel pellets, encased in ceramic, will be housed in fuel rods made of Zircaloy, a corrosion-resistant material. These rods will be contained in carbon steel containers with a copper coating, further encapsulated in bentonite clay.
While some members of the affected communities express safety concerns, others view the project as an opportunity for job creation and economic development.
