Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area

Letter to residents: An update on progress with land owners in South Bruce 

Ariel view of some of the land acquired by the NWMO..

NWMO staff prepare for technical site assessments near Teeswater, Ontario.

October 22, 2020

South Bruce, Ont.

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Ariel view of some of the land acquired by the NWMO..

NWMO staff prepare for technical site assessments near Teeswater, Ontario.

Dear neighbour,

I’m writing to you again today to provide an important update on the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)’s work in South Bruce.

As you may have heard, we recently announced we have aggregated over 1,500 acres in the area and have formed a potential repository site. This is an important step that will allow us to continue our site assessment activities.

These activities will include environmental monitoring and borehole drilling, planned for early 2021.

Our work here is far from over. Our conversations with landowners in the area continue, and the aggregation of the site thus far does not mean we have selected South Bruce as the location for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.

The NWMO has, since its very outset, committed to working with communities. We have also been clear that a deep geological repository will only be constructed in an area with informed and willing hosts. We invite you to get involved through learning about Canada’s plan and sharing your questions, concerns and ideas.

Just as we have been hearing from you, we have listened to your feedback and incorporated it into our work plans.

You told us the safety of wells and drinking water is an utmost priority, so we have expanded the number of wells and other water sources we will be monitoring, before and after we begin borehole drilling.

We heard that you wanted more detail about where that borehole drilling will occur, so last week we shared a map of the potential repository site outlining just that. You can also find it on our website. 

We listened to concerns about property values around a potential repository site, so we have committed to working with the municipality to establish a program to compensate property owners if values are adversely affected by the project should it be sited in South Bruce.

You also said you’re worried about the possible disruption to agricultural activity on the proposed repository site, and we have worked to ensure as much of the land continues to be used as it currently is as is possible, now and once the repository is operational.

We are committed to implementing the project in a manner that protects people and the environment, and makes a positive contribution to the agricultural and the quality of life in the communities where we are living and working. Communities that include both South Bruce and Ignace in the north of this province.

We continue to work in both areas as we move to select a site for Canada’s plan by 2023. We will continue to listen and keep the community informed of our activities in the area.

As always, we want to be good neighbours. Tell us how we can do that.

Please, don’t hesitate to reach out and come join us at one of our upcoming open houses and throughout the year at our office or online at nwmo.ca

Sincerely,

Dr. Ben Belfadhel

Teeswater

Teeswater Culross Community Centre -Community Hall

19 Marcy Street, Teeswater

October 26, 27, 28

1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Formosa

Formosa Hall

13 Community Drive, Formosa

October 29, 30

1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Mildmay

Mildmay Carrick Recreation Complex – Community Hall

24 Vincent St, Mildmay November 2, 3, 4

1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Belmore

Belmore Community Centre

91122 Belmore Line, Howick

November 5, 6

1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Online

Visit us as nwmo-openhouse.ca

October 26 to 29 and November 2 to 6

1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

 

About the NWMO

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel inside a deep geological repository, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

Founded in 2002, the NWMO has been guided for more than 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders that are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. Canada’s plan will only proceed in an area with informed and willing hosts, where the municipality, First Nation and Métis communities, and others in the area are working together to implement it. The NWMO plans to select a site in 2024, and two areas remain in our site selection process: the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation-Ignace area in northwestern Ontario and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area in southern Ontario.

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