Request a technical justification for the application of the ALARA principle where 'economic' and 'practical' considerations might be used to justify radioactive or hazardous releases into the local watershed.
Strategic Rationale
The Proponent's submission states that the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) principle will take into account 'social, technical, economic, practical, and public policy considerations' when minimizing exposures. For the residents of Melgund who rely entirely on private groundwater wells, the suggestion that the Proponent's economic costs could influence the 'reasonableness' of a contaminant release is a major concern. This recommendation is important to ensure that the health of the local environment is not traded off against the Proponent's budget. The expected solution is a site-specific definition of 'reasonable' that prioritizes environmental zero-discharge over project cost-savings. Adopting this would improve the project's environmental integrity and provide the community with the assurance that their water supply is not being compromised for the sake of the Proponent's bottom line.
Source Context
Understanding the Impacts of Nuclear Waste on our Community
This digital archive houses the public comments submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada regarding Project 88774: The Nuclear Waste Management Organization Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada's Used Nuclear Fuel Project. The impact assessment is led jointly by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. This archive preserves community perspectives, concerns, and observations shared during the assessment process, particularly in relation to Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario and the communities of Dyment and Borups Corners who are the closest and most impacted of all in the process.