South Bruce Forum offers insight into proposed nuclear waste storage facility

By Janice MacKayMarch 21, 2023 

An upcoming forum in South Bruce will explore the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s (NWMO) proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) Project.

The South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Team Community Engagement Officer Steve Travale said the forum takes place in early April.

“So on April 4 and 5, at the Teeswater Culross Community Centre, we’re bringing together Canadian and international experts for a two day conference,” said Travale. “And that’s for residents of South Bruce, and the neighbouring municipalities and communities to learn more about the Nuclear Waste Management Organization’s project.”

South Bruce is under consideration to host the storage site for used nuclear fuel. The other community being looked at is Ignace in Northern Ontario. A variety of experts will be part of the event.

“Such as geoscience, water, some of the different engineering components. We’ll also have exhibitors from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Impact Assessment Agency. So they’ll be able to speak to the regulatory process and what happens in the community after a site is chosen. They’ll be panels on agricultural experiences in a nuclear host community,” explained Travale.

South Bruce Mayor Mark Goetz expects the forum will help further educate South Bruce and its neighbours on the proposed DGR.

“I look forward to taking in the presentations and panels, which will help inform South Bruce residents when it comes time to decide whether or not the community wants to host a deep geologic repository and the associated facilities,” Goetz said.

Panelists and presenters will include:
• Tom Isaacs – Former Lead Advisor to the U.S. Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future and current advisor to the NWMO.
• Tiina Jalonen – Senior Vice President of Development at Posiva Oy, the Finnish counterpart to Canada’s NWMO. Finland’s DGR is well underway.
• Jacob Spangenberg – Former Mayor of Östhammar, Sweden, the host community of Sweden’s future DGR.

Registration for the full event remains open until March 24. For more information, or to register, visit www.southbruce.ca/Forum.

While most of the free-to-attend event does require registration, there is an open house scheduled from 4-6:30 p.m. on April 4 which is open to all. The deadline to register is March 24th.