A group of Michigan state lawmakers will introduce a bill today that aims to protect the Great Lakes region from a Canadian proposed deep geologic repository for low and intermediate radioactive waste in Kincardine, Ont. Ontario Power Generation’s planned DGR has received sharp criticism from both state and congressional lawmakers on the United States’ side of the lakes who fear that an accident could lead to the contamination of the one of the world’s largest fresh-water supplies. The bill, led by state Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-St. Clair Township), calls on President Barrack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry to submit a letter of reference or request a binding decision from the International Joint Commission, the inter-country organization established to settle disputes surrounding the Great Lakes.
In addition, the bill also bans the importation of radioactive waste into Michigan while extending the ban on nuclear waste disposal to include Class C waste. The legislation would also create the Great Lakes Protection Radioactive Waste Advisory Board to analyze the public health consequences of the proposed site. “This proposed facility would pose a critical threat to the health of the Great Lakes and other natural resources throughout Michigan,” Pavlov said in a statement. “I take very seriously my duty as a legislator to protect our natural resources and public health. That is why I will continue to fight the development of this site and ask my fellow residents to join in this effort.”
The proposed repository would be located beneath OPG’s Bruce nuclear facility. OPG plans on storing low and intermediate waste from its Bruce, Pickering, and Darlington power stations at the proposed repository, which would be located 680 meters (approximately 744 yards) below the surface in an isolated rock formation of shale and limestone. The review of the proposal to build the DGR has had its fair share of complaints, though. Most notably, a portion of the Michigan congressional delegation wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry back in October calling on the U.S. government to intervene to prevent the construction of the facility. Currently, the licensing of the facility is under review by a Joint Review Panel under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. After the public comment period, the review panel will submit an environmental assessment report within 90 days to the federal Minister of the Environment with its recommendations for the path forward. Once the federal government gives the go-ahead, the review panel can issue a license to prepare a site and construct the facility.
