IGNACE, Ont. — The Nuclear Waste Management Organization and the Township of Ignace are moving to an important stage of planning for a possible underground nuclear waste storage site.
The Ignace area and South Bruce, in southern Ontario, are the only remaining candidate locations for a nuclear waste repository.
NWMO has drilled a series of test boreholes about 35 kilometres west of Ignace, between the town and Wabigoon Lake First Nation.
The organization says its collaboration with the township to explore the potential for partnership will take a more "site-focused" approach this year.
Attendees at a recent virtual meeting of the Ignace Community Liaison Committee were told that the work will build on studies done since 2010 to establish baseline conditions in various areas including employment, housing, infrastructure improvements, economics and health.
Allan Webster, director of regulatory affairs and environmental assessment, provided committee members with an overview.
Webster will coordinate the ongoing studies in the Ignace area over the next few years.
In a statement, he said they'll provide residents with a chance to "shape how the project could be implemented if it were to proceed in this area."
Webster added that NWMO will be focused on "ensuring the community has the information they need to make an informed decision about whether or not to host the project."
The studies will consider aspirations and concerns contained in a Project Vision document drafted late last year.
The document shows that community residents have numerous questions, including:
- How will the project affect the size of the community?
- How many and what type of jobs and training will be created through the project
- How will youth be retained and attracted
- How will drinking water/ground and surface water resources be protected?
- What are the project components, and where will they be located?
- How will the availability and affordability of housing be ensured?
- How will needed improvements to infrastructure and services be planned and financed to accommodate population growth?
- How will the project affect tourism?
- How will willingness be determined?
- How will other communities (Indigenous and municipal) in the area be involved?
- How will others along the transportation corridor be considered?
- How will opposition to the project affect the siting decision?
- What are the emergency response plans for the project?
NWMO said the studies will be conducted in collaboration with the township, and the results will be shared broadly with the community.
It plans to select the location for the underground repository in 2023.
