Ignace hosts nuclear waste open house

Ignace residents are getting the opportunity to see first-hand what becoming the potential host site for the country's used nuclear waste will involve.

Representatives from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization are in Ignace for three days of community session this week.

Mike Krizank, communications manager for NWMO said the community sessions coincide with the release of Ignaces initial screening report. The next step for the community is to decide if it wants to go ahead with a feasibility study.

That would likely begin in 2012 and take approximately threes year to complete. After that, in-depth exploration would take place in one or two communities deemed suitable and willing.

Those steps are expected to take seven to 10 years. At that time a community will have to decide.

The recent events in Japan did raise some concerns from residents. NWMO officials point out a nuclear reactor and deep underground repository are two completely different operations.

Of the about 30 people in attendance on the night, almost all were comfortable with the idea of Ignace becoming the host site. Ignace has undergone a great deal of economic hardships in recent years. Construction of the facility is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs and hundreds more in the site's operation.

The Ignace open houses will wrap up Wednesday night. Community sessions in Ear falls, Red Rock, Schreiber and Hornpayne are expected to take place over the next few months.