An environmental group says it doesn’t think 10-year licenses should be awarded to Cameco’s three main northern operations.
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society says a two-year license renewal makes more sense.
On Wednesday afternoon the group addressed the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in La Ronge.
Leader Ann Coxworth says the environmental assessment for the proposal hasn’t even been completed yet, so it doesn’t make sense to award a long-term license to Cameco before that’s complete:
“It seems to us, inappropriate to be considering a 10-year license at this point when we know the intention of the proponent is to quickly render the new license inadequate.”
She adds once the environmental assessment is finished, a longer license could be considered.
The society’s Peter Prebble also urged the Nuclear Safety Commission to ensure that careful measures are put in place at the Rabbit Lake mine before it’s turned back over to the province.
An official with Saskatchewan Environment, Wes Kotyk, assured those in attendance the government wouldn’t be eager to reclaim any old mine-sites, until it was sure they were clean:
“It would have to be released by CNSC and then the appropriate financial assurance posted for what would be deemed an acceptable monitoring period, but that would only be when we’re comfortable that things are stable and a reasonable, expected long-term monitoring plan can be costed before we would accept that.”
Kotyk spoke to the commission over the phone from Saskatoon.
The hearings continue tonight and tomorrow.