English River Signals Interest In Nuclear Waste

English River Signals Interest In Nuclear Waste

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 13:33

 

 

There are now four communities in Canada expressing interest in hosting a site for spent nuclear fuel — and two of them are in northern Saskatchewan.

 

Jaimie Robinson, a spokesman for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, says the English River First Nation has contacted his group asking for more information about the idea.

 

He explains English River is at pretty much the same point as Pinehouse is in receiving consideration for the proposal.

 

Robinson says the band has requested an initial screening on how suitable it would be to host such a site.

 

He says over the next two to three months, the NWMO will complete the screening and then present a report to the First Nation.

 

An English River band councilor is shedding more light on why the First Nation is expressing interest in storing the material.

 

Bernie Eaglechild says the band is tired of seeing resources hauled out of its traditional lands without receiving any payments for it.

 

However, she stresses that nothing has been decided and talks are still at an early stage.

 

She says the band can still back out at any time.

 

Eaglechild also says the band held a meeting with Pinehouse officials last week and the theme of the gathering was “Let’s Work Together”.

 

Robinson notes the other two communities expressing interest in storing the waste are located in northwestern Ontario.