Nuclear shipments decision delayed indefinitely

Sarnia This Week
January 26, 2011
Heather Wright

Nuclear shipments decision delayed indefinitely

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission says it needs more time to decide if Bruce Power can ship radioactive steam generators on the Great Lakes through southern Ontario.

Bruce proposed sending the 16 school bus-sized generators last fall. But politicians in southern Ontario and the U.S., First Nations groups and nuclear safety advocates were concerned about the possibility of nuclear waste landing in the drinking water of 40 million people.

The commission decided to hold public hearings in the wake of the outcry. It was expected to give its decision this month.

Now, it says it will take more time.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley is one of the people opposed to the shipment.

"I am surprised because I thought it would be a slam dunk for Bruce Nuclear in the fall, that the hearings would be a sham, but as I sat through the hearings it was very obvious that there were very serious questions being raised that needed a lot more serious exploration. So I give the agency a lot of credit; the fact is they continue to hold off making a decision and that's important," says Bradley.

The mayor adds the commission can afford to take extra time on the important issue.

"The fact is they can't ship now even if they wanted to until the spring," says Bradley.

"But I think it means there's been enough pressure raised on both sides of the border by a wide coalition of different groups and individuals to say you really have to make sure this is the right thing to do and you have to justify it."

The commission didn't say when a decision would be released.