Saugeen Ojibway Nation-South Bruce area

Local input key to developing environmental monitoring program in South Bruce

Screenshot of virtual meeting

Joanne Jacyk, NWMO’s Section Manager for Environmental Assessment highlights the importance of community input to developing an environmental baseline monitoring program to members of the South Bruce Community Liaison Committee on September 3rd.

September 18, 2020

South Bruce, Ont.

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Screenshot of virtual meeting

Joanne Jacyk, NWMO’s Section Manager for Environmental Assessment highlights the importance of community input to developing an environmental baseline monitoring program to members of the South Bruce Community Liaison Committee on September 3rd.

Environmental monitoring is an important part of the preliminary work to establish a site specific environmental baseline program at a potential deep geological repository site. Joanne Jacyk, Section Manager for Environmental Assessment with the NWMO recently spoke to the South Bruce Community Liaison Committee (CLC) about the importance of incorporating local knowledge in co-designing a shared environmental baseline monitoring program.

“Community input and feedback is the most important input in the creation of this program,” explained Ms. Jacyk. “By incorporating local knowledge we hope to better understand the current stressors on the local environment and ensure we understand what makes the local environment unique while taking local concerns into account into the development of the environmental baseline monitoring program.”

The environmental monitoring program will identify future areas of study and monitoring that will be conducted around the potential repository site, the surrounding region, and will include monitoring of environmental features like water, air, soil, plants and animals.

Jacyk also highlighted additional opportunities for residents to get involved and ensure the program reflects their priorities and concerns.

“Participation is a great way to get involved in Canada’s plan and shape a deeper understanding of the environment at a local level. The input and feedback from residents will be incorporated into the initial design for the environmental baseline monitoring program that will be shared with residents later this year, noted Jacyk. “There will also be future opportunities for residents to get involved in training programs and actively take part in sample collection.”

In August the NWMO held a series of virtual workshops. Now that municipal facilities have re-opened the NWMO will be hosting small in-person workshops on the following days:

Date

Time

Location

September 21, 2020

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Mildmay Community Centre

September 22, 2020

9:00am – 11:00am

Formosa Hall

September 22, 2020

7:00pm – 9:00pm

Teeswater Community Centre


South Bruce residents are encouraged to register for an upcoming workshop by contacting Cherie Leslie at (519) 955-2251 or by email at cleslie@nwmo.ca. In line with recommendations from the Grey-Bruce Health Unit all participants are required to wear face coverings and maintain proper physical distancing.

The Municipality of South Bruce is one of two communities currently involved in the site selection process for a deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel.


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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