Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County
A quick history:
Actions undertaken by citizens opposed to the dumping of nuclear wastes in Renfrew County date back to the 1970's. The Renfrew County Citizens for Nuclear Responsibility (RCCNR) was opposed to the deep, underground disposal of high level nuclear wastes. Even now, 20 years later (March 1997), this issue is a hot topic, with hearings going on across Canada.
Members of the Peace Study & Action Group (PSAG) were involved in making representations and organizing actions in the early phases of the Siting Task Force. This Siting Task Force was established on December 11, 1986 by the Federal Government to find a 'volunteer community' in Ontario to accept over 880,000 cubic metres of low and medium level radioactive wastes. These wastes are historical wastes resulting from the refining of radium and uranium and are present in the Port Hope, Clarington, Hope Township and Scarborough areas. The wastes would be stored in a 'permanent waste management facility.'
When Deep River (AECL/Chalk River) became a 'volunteer community', the focus of our concern was with the transportation of this massive amount of material by truck (44,000 truckloads) through dozens of communities en route to AECL/Chalk River. Five municipalities held referendums in Renfrew County in 1994, with over 80% of voters against the idea of accepting this material in Renfrew County.
Under the preliminary definition of 'Community' as outlined in Opting for Cooperation, The Participants, published by the Siting Task Force, 'Access Route Communities' were municipalities along the transportation route to the waste site and as a result would be directly affected by the trucking of radioactive waste. But the definition of 'volunteer community' was limited to the Town of Deep River by the Siting Task Force.
The Deep River municipal council voted to negotiate with the Federal Government and as time went by, Deep River became the only 'volunteer community' left in Ontario to negotiate with the government for the waste site. Negotiations led to a tentative contract, which would have given compensation to the Deep River community in the form of:
'waste expertise' (the opportunity for sustained economic activity and jobs, and the potential for Deep River to establish itself as a centre of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) expertise); money ($8.75 million); other revenues to the Town from property taxes or grants in lieu of taxes; tipping fees from the described wastes and 'possible other wastes'; and job guarantees at AECL.
This expired at the end of 1996 without a final ratification by the federal government. The government, apparently, could not meet some terms of the agreement:
"given the economic and fiscal realities faced by us all, the Government is unable to agree to job guarantees." From a letter dated Dec.23, 1996 from the Minister of Natural Resources Canada to the citizens of Deep River.
And into 1997:
And into January, 1997, a letter from the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, Anne McLellan, was sent to Deep River Mayor, John Murphy, answering some questions that he had raised if negotiations were to be extended into 1997. In explaining the government's new negotiating position the Minister remains open to a co-operative, open and voluntary siting process and a public referendum ( Deep River only) would be held after a proposed legal agreement is signed by the Minister. The big surprise to CCRC is that the Minister has much greater expectations for the waste site. She sees not only the Port Hope wastes being transported, but also:
The Deep River Council met after receiving the minister's new position and released its response. As well as concerns about identifying the project proponent and compensation for the Town's expenses, further volumes of LLRW, from a variety of sources, would not be included in further discussions. The Council said, "the Town and its residents will require considerably more detail as to volumes, sources, and characteristics of these additional wastes than has been provided to date, before these wastes can be considered...If and when this information is made available, Council will give serious consideration to a formal request that additional wastes be included."
Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County (CCRC) grew from the efforts of PSAG and has become the vocal opponent of the plan to move Port Hope wastes to Deep River. Many other nuclear issues have arisen from our involvement with this nuclear focus, such as: