Wawa, Schreiber and Hornepayne Among 8 Communities Receiving $400,000 From NWMO
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has been working with 21 communities that have expressed interest in learning more about Canada’s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel. The first phase of preliminary assessment has been completed with eight of these communities. The NWMO today identified four for further study: Creighton in Saskatchewan and Hornepayne, Ignace and Schreiber in Ontario. The communities of English River First Nation and Pinehouse in Saskatchewan, and Ear Falls and Wawa in Ontario, were not selected for more detailed study.
“Schreiber is looking forward to further exploring how this important national infrastructure project could potentially impact our community and region,” said Don McArthur, Mayor of Schreiber. “We have a great deal of work and many studies ahead of us before we will be in a position to decide whether a deep geological repository is a good fit for our community and area. All Schreiber residents can be proud of the contribution our community has already made to the NWMO site selection process, regardless of the eventual outcome.”
Findings to date do not confirm the suitability of any site, and no community has expressed willingness to host the project at this early point. These findings do not affect work ongoing in 13 other communities engaged in the NWMO learning process. At this milestone, the NWMO is recognizing the contribution all eight communities have made to advancing Canada’s plan for safely managing used nuclear fuel over the long term. In acknowledging these significant contributions, the NWMO will provide $400,000 to each community upon its establishment of a Community Well-Being Reserve Fund. Other communities engaged in the site selection process will be similarly recognized upon completion of their Phase 1 studies.
“We are still in the early steps of a very long learning process,” said Morley Forster, Mayor of Hornepayne. “Ultimately, the community as a whole will have to decide whether hosting this project is in our best interests and can contribute to our long-term well-being. We look forward to the progressively more detailed studies to come and to increased community and regional engagement activities. Our residents can be proud of the contributions Hornepayne has already made in shaping this important national infrastructure project, regardless of the eventual outcome.”
Administered by the communities, Community Well-Being Reserve Funds will support continuing efforts by each community to build sustainability and well-being. Examples of activities the funds could support include projects, programs or services that benefit community youth or seniors, community sustainability, energy efficiency or economic development initiatives. Other communities engaged in the site selection process will be similarly recognized upon completion of their Phase 1 studies.
More details are available on our Web site at: www.nwmo.ca/sitingprocess_phase1 .
