Mandate the immediate inclusion of 'overburden' and 'construction materials' in the geochemical baseline testing program to establish background salinity and metal levels.
Strategic Rationale
The text mentions that testing of overburden and construction materials is merely 'planned' work, yet also notes the intent to test for 'salt' and metals. Since these materials will be disturbed first and stored on the surface, they pose the most immediate risk of runoff during the construction phase. Establishing a verified baseline for these specific materials is necessary to distinguish between project-induced contamination and natural background levels, ensuring the Proponent can be held accountable for any surface water degradation.
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.