Request a technical assessment of the environmental implications of 'co-emplacement' of Low-Level Waste (LLW) underground versus off-site disposal, specifically focusing on potential chemical interactions with the host rock and groundwater.
Strategic Rationale
"The Proponent plans to emplace LLW generated during decommissioning underground, rather than removing it. This introduces a new waste stream (demolition debris, contaminated equipment) into the geological barrier that differs from the used fuel originally assessed. This matters to Melgund because the long-term safety of the local aquifer depends on the integrity of the repository. The expected solution is a comparative analysis proving that co-emplacement does not compromise the geological isolation of the site. This provides an opportunity to ensure that cost-saving measures (leaving waste on-site) do not increase environmental risk."
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.