Pinehouse, Patuanak Passed Initial Screening

Pinehouse, Patuanak Passed Initial Screening

Tuesday, April 05, 2011 at 16:21

Pinehouse and the English River First Nation have passed an initial site screening for hosting a potential nuclear waste storage facility.

Both northern communities have indicated some interest in the idea, and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization says both seem to have the necessary geological features to make it happen.

NWMO spokesman Mike Krizanc says these communities are still seven to 10 years away from having to make a decision about nuclear waste.

Kineepik Metis Local spokesman Vince Natomagan says early fears expressed at community meetings are slowly being replaced by a willingness to at least explore this possibility.

Natomagan says his community will take the better part of a year deciding whether it wants to enter the next phase in the site selection process, which is a two-to-three-year feasibility study.

Krizanc says an initial site screening for Creighton — which has also signalled some interest in nuclear waste storage — will get underway over the next few months.