To the editor:
In Carl Clutchey’s recent article on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) Annual Report and on our commitment to safety, he quotes a member of the group We the Nuclear Free North who feels that used nuclear fuel should remain on the surface near the site of production, so that transportation and emplacement into a deep geological repository would not be required.
To put it simply, leaving used nuclear fuel in temporary surface containers is not a long-term storage solution, and simply pushes this issue down the road for future generations to deal with.
Canada’s used nuclear fuel is currently stored above ground at reactor sites where it is produced. Storage at these sites is safe, but requires ongoing monitoring that adheres to rigorous Canadian and international standards. It was never intended to be long-term. The current containers have a lifespan of approximately 150 years, while the used fuel remains radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years.
A deep geological repository keeps the fuel safe for the long-term in a passive way, without active management, and will be protected from man-made events, climate events, unintended discovery, and malicious intent for hundreds of thousands of years. That’s why almost every nation with a nuclear power program is in some phase of developing a deep geological repository. Finland has already constructed their facility, Sweden has recently started construction on theirs, Switzerland has selected a site, and the UK, USA, Japan and other countries have connected with the NWMO as they are in various stages of developing and implementing their site selection processes.
Used nuclear fuel is the most highly regulated substance transported in Canada and requires stringent oversight. It must be transported in packaging that is designed to withstand severe accident conditions, meets international standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency and is certified by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Used fuel has been safely transported in Canada since the 1960s, and in 60 years of transporting used nuclear fuel globally, there has never been an accident that has led to environmental or human harm as a result of radioactive release.
This is not a project anyone takes lightly. We understand that people have strong reactions to the idea of used nuclear materials, and that’s exactly why we work as hard as we do to engage as many people as possible throughout this process.
Vince Ponka,
Indigenous & Regional Communications Manager,
NWMO
