Update: Nuclear Waste in the Territory

Dec 16, 2022
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COVID-19 has impacted all organizations, including the Environment Office. As we come back to work, we will be reaching out to our communities to find out how our membership would best like to receive information and updates.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG)

In January 2020, the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) said no to OPG’s proposed deep geologic repository for low- and intermediate-level waste. OPG has respected their commitment to SON and has withdrawn the proposed project.

Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)

NWMO is responsible for finding a long-term solution for high-level nuclear waste (mostly used fuel). By 2023, they are planning to select a site for the high-level waste DGR. In 2018, NWMO committed to SON that they would not select a site in SON Territory for their site without the consent of SON. Now, we must begin the process to a consent decision from our People on the high-level DGR.

NWMO has evaluated potential sites for their DGR and narrowed down the potential sites to two areas:

1) Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Territory (near Ignace, ON)

2) 
Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory (Municipality of South Bruce, near Teeswater, ON)

They have purchased 1500 acres of land in the Municipality of South Bruce and selected two locations to begin exploration. NWMO plans to drill two boreholes within this land in spring of 2021 to understand the geological and hydrological (under ground water) conditions and suitability for the project.

The Environment Office will be engaging with our communities as a key part of this process. COVID has impacted this, including the ability of our working groups to meet. Our office is working hard in conjunction with Saugeen Ojibway Nation leadership to develop community engagement and an online platform for discussion and information sharing.

Stay tuned for more information and community engagement opportunities. If you have any questions, please fill in our Google Form.

Visit NWMO’s website to find out more about the proposed high-level waste DGR.