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HomeMy WebLinkAboutADMIN 49-83C CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE 40 TEMPERANCE STREET BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO Ll C 3A6 TELEPHONE 623-3379 REPORT TO THE GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 1983 REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 SUBJECT: PORT GRANBY WASTE !' 'IAGEMENT FACILITY RECOMMENDATION: It is respectfully recommend, Administration Committee reu following: that the General Purpose and end to Council the 1. That Report ADM: . 83-49 be received; and 2. That Eldorado Rc urces Limited be urged to approach the Fe( al Government, with the support of the '. n of Newcastle, regarding the establishment of n independant body to conduct a minimum of a I -_vince-wide site search for a permanent dispo i facility for low-level radioactive wastts in a format similar to that being conducted 'by the Ontario Waste Management Corporation; and 3. That Council reaffirm the operative clauses of the Resolution adopted by the General Purpose and Administration Committee by Resolution #GPA-504-83 at its June 6, 1983 meeting and subsequently confirmed by Council by Resolution #C-412-83 at its meeting of June 13, 1983; and 4. That a letter be sent from Mayor Rickard on behalf of the Members of Council to Mr. B.C. Pearson of Eldorado Resources Limited outlining the Town of Newcastle's position; and ...2/ C REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 RECOMMENDATIONS Cont'd: Page 2 5. That Mr. R. G. I ars, Vice -President, Eldorado Nuclear Limited. Wr. Jon Jennekens, Chairman, Atomic Energy Cc rol Board; The Honourable Jean Chretien, P`.aister, Energy Mines and Resources; The t,.n.ourable John Roberts, Minister, Envirc Pnt Canada; The Honourable Keith Norton; Mi ster, Ontario Ministry of Environment; The onourable J. Edward Broadbent, M.P., _eader, New Democratic Party; The Honourable Scott Fennell, M.P., Ontario; The Honourable Allan Lawrence, M.P., Northumberland and Durham; The Honourable Sam Cureatz; M.P.P., Deputy Speaker of the House; and the Council of the Region of Durham be advised of Council's position and forwarded a copy of Council's Resolution and Staff Report ADMIN. 83-49. REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 Page 3 BACKGROUND: In 1978, an Environmental Assessment Panel conducted a Hearing on the proposal by Eldorado Resources Limited (ERL) to locate a Uranium Hexafluoride Refinery and Waste Management Facility at a 658 acre site on Lakeshore Road in Port Granby. In its report, which was released in May 1978, the Panel concluded that "the Port Granby site would not be acceptable for the refinery, and, in the absence of the refinery, should not be used solely for waste storage". This decision was based partly on the fact that the area has a "high long-term potential as an agricultural area" and that the "agricultural character and viability of the area is confirmed in local and regional plans". As well, the Panel indicated that "agricultural areas such as Port Granby should be protected from industrial intrusion". Eldorado Resources has been directed by the Atomic Energy Control Board to begin preparing plans for the decommissioning of the existing Port Granby waste management facility, with work to commenc, no later than 1986. In a letter to Mayor Rickard d ?d November 22, 1982, Mr. B. Pearson of Eldorado indicated it "the only way in which the 1986 target can be met is develop a disposal system, which meets modern environment objectives, at a site in the immediate area." Mr. Pear proposed the possibility of the Town "formally constitu. ,g a committee .... so that Eldorado can develop the desige ind location of the new system in close consultation w i Council and its represent- atives." Eldorado also releas a press release on November 24, 1983, announcing its inten in to decommission the Port Granby and Welcome sites, and Ang that the Town had been approached regarding the estab >hment of a committee. ...4/ REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 Page 4 At its meeting of December 20, 1982, Council considered and approved (Resolution #C-1039-82) a letter addressed to Mr. B.C. Pearson, of Eldorado Resources Limited. This letter, which was signed by Mayor Rickard on behalf of Council indicated that, with respect to the decommissioning of the Port Granby site, the Town of Newcastle "is willing to participate in such a committee on the understanding that such participation does not co :itute or imply any approval of, or any consent to, the est .iishment of a new disposal facility in the Municipality a :his time". The letter also suggested a membership structu for the Committee. The Port Granby Waste Manageme,i Facility Consultative Committee met a total of five :.aes. The following is a summary of what transpired at h meeting. First Meeting - March 2, 1983 The membership of the Committe, :as established and Dr. K. Wagstaff, the Atomic Energy Co•t-�,ol Board representative, was selected as Chairman. Second Meeting - April 13, 1983 The first part of the meeting was taken up with questions regarding the technical aspects of the existing waste facility. In response to a question about whether or not the site would meet current AECB criteria, Dr. Wagstaff indicated that, if the AECB were presented with an application today, it would probably not be viewed favourably. The issue of an environmental hearing for a new waste disposal site was also discussed. The Eldorado REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 E Page 5 //�. ow 4JY representatives indicated tha 1 hearing was likely, although they were not prepar; to state what form such a hearing would take. Eldorado indicated that they lerstood decommissioning to involve both the selection of _ permanent site and disposal method, and the closing of th axisting site and the transfer of waste. Councillor Barr indicated that Newcastle Town Council under- stood the mandate of the Committee to be a discussion of the decommissioning of the existing site, and not a discussion of new sites. Third Meeting - May 11, 1983 Councillor Hamre indicated that she and Councillor Barr had discussed the Town's representation on the..Cgmmittee with Mayor Rickard. Their consensus was that a discussion of siting alternatives was premature, but that the Town's representatives would continue their involvement on an information basis only until such time as the Committee begins choosing sites on a technical basis. Eldorado tabled a Report documenting the Corporation's decision to limit the search for a permanent nuclear waste disposal facility to the following four properties which they own in the immediate arE'.: 1. the existing 42 acre -t Granby Waste Management Facility; 2. the existing 90 acre ]come Waste Management Facility; 3. 658 acres north of th 4. 470 acres at the form Wesleyville, in Hope .akeshore Road at Port Granby refinery site north of .wnship. ...6/ REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 Page 6 The Company noted that they were concentrating on the latter two sites, and the two existing sites would only be considered should all other options fail. ENL also indicated that they had requested several consult- ants to submit proposals to investigate engineered burial concepts for the Lakeshore Road site and the former refinery site in Hope Township. ENL said they would present the best proposal to the Committee at its next meeting to obtain the Committee's input. Once the study was completed, it would be presented to the Committee, together with other studies already completed for the Port Granby and Welcome sites, so that a short-list of possibl, isposal methods could be developed. Eldorado noted that the comp,,,does not have unlimited financial resources, and economics is an important constraint to be considered v n assessing sites. une 6, 1983 The General Purpose and Admir tration Committee adopted a Resolution (#GPA-504-83) endc ing the decommissioning and clean-up of the existing wast nanagement facility at Port Granby, and requesting Eldora to abide by the decision of the 1978 Review Panel, and to iden its site search for a waste disposal facility (attached): This Resolution was subsequently adopted by Council (Resolution #C-412-83) at its meeting of June 13, 1983,. June 8, 1983 Regional Council adopted a similar resolution. 4V1 ...7/ REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 Fourth Meeting - June 8, 1983 Page 7 Dr. Michael filed a copy of RE onal Council's resolution, Eldorado Resources filed copiE:. of a consultant's proposal regarding engineered burial at he Port Granby and Welcome sites. Councillor Harare indicated the based on the resolution adopted by the General Purpose nd Administration Committee on June 6, she could not suppc either the consultant's proposal or the study. Fifth Meeting - August 31, 19f The Committee adopted a Resolution recessing the Committee until such time as Eldorado Resources is prepared to seriously research alternative sites across Canada. At its meeting of September 6, 1983, the General Purpose and Administration Committee received the Committee's resolution for information purposes (Resolution #GPA-739-83). The General Purpose and Administration Committee considered a letter from Mr. B. Pearson of Eldorado at its October 3, 1983 meeting. Mr. Pearson indicated that Eldorado would like to present the consultant studies regarding various disposal options at the four candidate sites to Council, if it was not possible to present them to the Consultative Committee. The Committee resolved (Resolution #C-811-83) to refer the letter to the Council members on the Port Granby Monitoring Committee, who will confer with Staff and make a recommendation to the General " rpose and Administration Committee. REPORT NO.: ( ,MIN. 83-49 Page 8 The Port Granby Monitoring Cor. ttee, which met on October 3, 1983, suggested the follows y recommendation for Council's consideration: "That the Port Granby Waste Management Facility Consultative Committee will reconvene to discuss decommissioning the existing Port Granby waste site as soon as we have confirmation in writing from Eldorado Resources Limited that the two Port Granby sites or any site in the Region of Durham have been removed from the list of sites being considered for a permanent waste disposal facility." COMMENTS: There are very serious and complex issues which require investigation when searching for the best site for a permanent disposal facility for low level radioactive wastes. Staff note that the Ontario government created the Ontario Waste Management Corporation (OWMC) in 1981 to find suitable treatment and disposal facilities and sites for hazardous wastes. The OWMC has embarked on a comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental and planning considerations relevant to a ' ge number of sites, with an eye to narrowing the site seai:- down to a few candidate sites before submitting their nal proposal to public hearings. Eldorado Resources Limited has onsistently maintained that the company lacks the financia resources to conduct a more extensive site search, or trar. _.ort the wastes to a distant disposal facility. It should be noted however, tt there are other companies and agencies in Ontario and ac ss Canada which are also faced with the problem of disl ing of low-level radioactive wastes. As well, the regulati of atomic energy is the responsibility of the Federal Government. 9/ REPORT NO.: ADMIN. 83-49 Page 9 / y Given the toxic nature of th< astes currently stored in the Port Granby site and of low- el radioactive wastes in general, it is reasonable to pect that a thorough site search should be undertaken r a permanent disposal facility. However, given the act that other companies and agencies are faced with Simi',. problems, it is also unreasonable to expect Eldorc. Resources to shoulder the entire financial burden of st a site search. The Ontario Government has ac pted the responsibility for disposing of hazardous wastes enerated by industries in Ontario. Inasmuch as the Fe(. -al Government is responsible for regulating atomic energy. t is not unreasonable to expect the Federal Government co assume the responsibility for undertaking a comprehensive search for a suitable site for low-level radioactive wastes, and that such a search be conducted on at least an Ontario -wide basis. It is therefore recommended that Eldorado Resources Limited be urged to approach the Federal Government regarding the establishment of an independent body to conduct such a search, and that the Town support Eldorado in this regard. It is also recommended that the Town's..position be explained to Eldorado in a letter from Mayor Rickard on behalf of the Members of Council to Mr. Pearson of Eldorado Resources. Respectfully submitted, Dave hnston Chl,6f Administrative Officer DJ*Jip Attachment No.1 to Report Admin. 83-49 Resolution Adopted by the Genera: Purpose and Administration Committee on June 6, 1983 (Resolution #GPA-504-83 "WHEREAS the Atomic nergy Control Board has directed Eldorado 1__lear Limited to develop a decommissioning plv, for the Port Granby Waste Management Facility 3 be in place by 1986; AND WHEREAS the Toa, 3f Newcastle has agreed to participate on a Co •,jltative Committee to discuss the decommi ;inning of the existing Port Granby site; AND WHEREAS Eldorado luclear Limited has decided that a prop. :d permanent low-level radioactive waste d T.UoSal facility would appropriately be lot •.-ed on one of the sites it owns in the immedia, area, including a 658 acre site on Lakeshc Road at Port Granby-. AND WHEREAS the sear for a permanent disposal facility for low-lev radioactive wastes involves very seriou and complex environmental and land use issues �„d should take place on a Canada -wide or, at the very least, an Ontario -wide basis; BE IT NOW THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Town of Newcastle fully endorses the decommissioning and clean-up of the existing waste management facility at Port .Granby and is willing to participate on the Port Granby Waste Management Facility Consultative Committee to help achieve this decommissioning and clean-up; AND THAT Eldorado Nuclear Limited be requested to abide by the decision of the Environmental Assessment Review Panel in 1978 regarding the location of a waste management facility at the Lakeshore Road site at Port Granby at this time; AND THAT the search for a permanent disposal facility for low-level radioactive wastes as proposed by Eldorado Nuclear Limited should be undertaken on a Canada -wide or, at the very least, a Province -wide basis; AND THAT Eldorado Nuclear Limited be strongly urged to submit its proposal for a waste disposal facility for 'ow -level radioactive wastes, either at Por Granby or elsewhere, for review by an Environm tal Assessment Panel at a Public Hearing. Y DU iAM The. tonal Municipality of Durham Clerks`Department 605 96ssland Road East P O. Box 623. Whitby, Ontano Canada. LiN6A3 (416) 668 7711 CW. LUNDY. AJAC.T. Regional Clark October 4, 1983 Mr. D.W. Oakes Clerk, Town of Newcastle 40 Temperance Street BOWMANVILLE, Ontario Durham Region Identity Mr. Oakes, the Management Committee of Regional Council considered the above matter and at a meeting held on September 28, 1983 Council adopted the following recommendations of the Committee: Ita)THAT the existing Durham Region logo be changed to include the word 'REGION' below the word 'DURHAM' and that the new logo replace the old in new applications or reprints of old material b) THAT the local municipalities be encouraged to adopt as part of their letterhead and print material reference to the fact that the municipality is part of Durham Region." Would you kindly place this matter before your Council for their consideration at your earliest convenience. C.W. Lundy, A.M.C.T. Regional Clerk CWL: jml cc: G.G. Gervais, Commis. mer of Economic Devel Ulm 1 h:ll�j� i�hi CLG^.k ......... ACV. BY:.......��rr//'' ( . ORIGINAL TO:. 4 COPIES TIM I,— - - ; Htk .