Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is accepting public input through Nov. 30 on the draft version of its latest update to the five-year plan toward development of a geologic repository for the nation’s spent nuclear fuel.
The NWMO expects by 2023 to select the single site for construction of the repository 500 meters below the Earth’s surface that would hold what is expected to be as many as 5.4 million spent fuel bundles from over 50 years and counting of nuclear power operations in Canada. The facility is due to become operational at some point from 2040 to 2045.
The Implementing Adaptive Phased Management document is updated every year, with the newest draft covering 2018-2022.
“As our work has become more focused, so too has this year’s planning document. This evolution of our plans and the way we present them will continue over the coming years,” said Lisa Frizzell, NWMO vice president for stakeholder relations, in a prepared statement. “We hope people find the plan easy to review and comment on.”
The NWMO will use the comments it receives to update and finalize the document, and will report on the status of work next year in its annual report.