Photo courtesy of Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
The northern community of Pinehouse gave its unqualified and enthusiastic support today to AREVA’s application for a 12-year licence renewal for its McClean Lake operation.
The current eight-year licence expires at the end of the month.
For the past two days, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has been conducting public hearings in La Ronge on the application. There were about a dozen intervenors who made presentations.
During the final day, Vince Natomagan, representing the community of Pinehouse, summed up how his community viewed the application.
“Given this collaboration, the third-party review, and the expressed support of community members, the Metis community of Pinehouse hereby gives full support to AREVA’s 12-year licence request,” he said.
Cameco provides uranium ore from its Cigar Lake mine to be processed at the McClean Lake mill. The two companies have an extensive working relationship, as well as partnership with northern workers and communities. Cameco Vice President, Liam Mooney, also endorsed AREVA’s application for a 12-year licence renewal, noting the positive impact on the north.
“The relationship between the McClean Lake mill and the Cigar Lake mine has a significant socio-economic impact on northern Saskatchewan,” he said. “Cameco’s northern operations employ about 1,700 people, more than half of whom are Aboriginal.”
McClean Lake is about 750 kilometres north of Saskatoon, and is located in the Athabasca Basin. The licence renewal hearing wraps up today.