Organization consults on nuclear waste disposal

The management of used nuclear fuel poses unique challenges. Improperly handled, nuclear waste is hazardous to humans and the environment for a very long time.

Unlike other public policy issues, the consequences of decisions taken now about its future management can not be known with absolute certainty for many thousands of years. Perhaps it is not surprising then that this technically complex matter is often also socially divisive.

Canadians have generated nuclear energy for electricity for more than 35 years. While all of Canada’s used nuclear fuel – 1.8 million used fuel bundles – is fully accounted for and safely stored, existing management practices were designed to be an interim solution and were never intended to last more than 50 to 100 years. We now have to develop a strategy for managing it over millennia.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization was established to study options and propose a plan to the Government of Canada by November 2005. We are determined to work collaboratively with Canadians to develop a solution that is socially and ethically acceptable, environmentally responsible, technically sound and economically feasible.

The questions wanting answers are not solely for physicists, engineers or governments. All of us, as citizens, have a role to play. Experts alone can’t decide what risks are acceptable to society, what is the responsibility of this generation, or what forms of institutions will inspire trust and confidence. No one has a monopoly on the right answers.

That is why NWMO is reaching out with a broad engagement program and a comprehensive review that goes much beyond the technical. Our study is built around three milestone documents so that we learn together with citizens – first about the framework for the study itself, then the assessment of the options, and finally the recommendations and implementation plan. We seek to provide a forum for recognizing divergent viewpoints and seeking common ground.

What we have heard so far is that no single technical method will perfectly address the values and objectives Canadians have said are important for managing used nuclear fuel. Trade-offs will have to be made. However, consensus is emerging on some fundamental requirements.

There is a strong desire among the public and experts alike to assume responsibility, to take a decision now and begin to implement a plan. But, people want adaptability. They suggest a staged approach which can incorporate new learning as it evolves and which will allow future generations to make adjustments that reflect their own values and priorities.

Citizens told us that they want to learn and to see our thinking as it evolves. They expect that affected communities and regions will be kept informed and engaged in making decisions that will have an impact on them. They echo the persistent cry for governments and industry to be transparent about the ongoing care of used fuel.

The NWMO has recently produced its second discussion document, Understanding the Choices. In it, we describe what the management approaches we are required to study might look like; the methodology being proposed to compare them is outlined; and a preliminary assessment of their strengths and limitations is presented for discussion.

We are in the midst of hosting information and discussion sessions in more than thirty five communities in every province and territory to hear the comments, concerns and questions of interested Canadians. We will continue to support dialogues developed by aboriginal organizations for their people. And, we will continue to gain insight from the experiences of communities which host nuclear facilities. Our website (www.nwmo.ca) is a focal point, displaying all of our reports and research as well as submissions from the public. It hosts e-dialogues, polls and surveys.

Our work has been rich, bringing together the experience and knowledge of Canadians from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. We have consulted top experts in Canada and internationally, and sought to benefit from the traditional wisdom of aboriginal peoples and the public at large.

Despite differences among stakeholders, experts and the public at large – and there are different perspectives – we are heartened by the nascent convergence of views and understanding on several issues. Citizens who have taken time to learn, appreciate the technical expertise being brought to bear. And experts welcome the good sense of citizen values, and the need to be guided by them in decision-making.

Our work is far from complete. Any hope of success demands broad and informed engagement of the public. Any approach in which the public has confidence must resonate with what really matters to Canadians. We invite the voices of all interested citizens for our only real obstacles are apathy and indifference.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell
President and CEO
Nuclear Waste Management Organization
www.nwmo.ca

Editor’s note: Elizabeth Dowdeswell served for five years as executive director of the United Nations environment program, and three years as an assistant deputy minister at federal Department of the Environment.