The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) today announced that it has selected the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) and Ignace area as the site of Canada’s repository for used nuclear fuel.
The decision comes following a 14-year process to select the site for Canada’s plan to safely manage used nuclear fuel for the long term. What started with 22 communities across the country expressing interest in hosting the project by 2012 was narrowed down to two host communities, WLON and Ignace in Northern Ontario, as well as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) and South Bruce area.
Together with communities, the NWMO been worked to assess each site for its potential to meet the project’s robust safety requirements, to develop a safe and socially acceptable plan to transport the used nuclear fuel to each site, and to build supportive and resilient partnerships.
Before the site was selected, communities had to confirm that they are willing to host it through community-driven processes for defining willingness.
Ignace residents voted in a strong majority to move ahead with the project in July and this month, the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation community members also voted ‘yes’ in a willingness referendum.
The implementation of Canada’s plan for used nuclear fuel will be subject to future regulatory decision-making processes, including licence applications to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and an impact assessment completed by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC). The IAAC, CNSC and the NWMO have an agreed protocol for the integrated assessment of the proposed deep geological repository for Canada’s used nuclear fuel. This protocol outlines roles and responsibilities among the proponent/applicant, the NWMO and the CNSC and IAAC.
