Pinehouse Expresses Interest In Nuclear Waste Site

Pinehouse Expresses Interest In Nuclear Waste Site

Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 13:06

The northern Saskatchewan community of Pinehouse has formally entered the site selection process for a proposed nuclear waste storage facility.

Representatives of the northern village and the community’s Metis local have sent letters to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, expressing that desire.

Pinehouse is the first community in the province to take that step, and only the second in Canada.

NWMO spokesman Jamie Robertson says his group will be working with the community over the next few days on a timeframe for the initial screening process.

Robertson says the community will have to meet five criteria in order to be considered, including having a site that’s not near any groundwater.

The head of the northern Saskatchewan municipal lobby group New North, Bobby Woods, says Pinehouse is taking a step that should be supported by northerners and the provincial government — even though he expects some opposition.

Pinehouse officials have not been available for comment.