Great Lakes radioactive waste dump hearings end, resistance continues

MI State Rep. Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair), and Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), spoke to local press along the shores of Lake Huron at Macpherson Park in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. They travelled there to testify against the dump before the JRP. Photo credit Kincardine Times.The Canadian federal Joint Review Panel (JRP) has concluded over a month of environmental assessment hearings about Ontario Power Generation's (OPG) proposed Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for "low" and "intermediate" level radioactive wastes. The dumpsite is targeted at the Lake Huron shore in Kincardine, Ontario, at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, currently one of the world's single largest operating nuclear power plants.

The testimony heard by the JRP included a presentation by Beyond Nuclear, and statements by a large number of additional environmental and public interest opponents to the insane proposal.

The JRP will now advise the Canadian federal environment minister, who will take the rushed decision to the Canadian cabinet, bypassing Parliament. The U.S. has barely been notified, much less consulted, in violation of bi-national treaty obligations.

Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps recently appeared on Michigan State Senator Hopgood's television program, alongside Michigan State Representative Roberts. Hopgood and Roberts (photo, above left) have taken the lead in the Michigan State Legislature in opposition to the proposed dump, threatening the drinking water supply for 40 million people in 8 U.S. states, 2 Canadian provinces, and a large number of Native American First Nations.

Please sign and circulate the Stop the Great Lakes Nuclear Dump petition, and urge your city, county, and state governments to pass resolutions in opposition.