The Media Room
Natural Resources Canada
2009/76
August 19, 2009
Government of Canada Moving Forward
on Historic Waste Clean Up in Clarington
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The environmental assessment screening report for the clean up of a low-level radioactive waste site in the Municipality of Clarington concludes that the Port Granby Project is unlikely to result in significant adverse effects, provided the mitigation measures identified in the report are implemented.
The completion of the environmental assessment positions the government to move into the licensing stage - one step closer to building a modern, long-term waste management facility.
“As part of the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), the Government of Canada has committed to clean up the low-level radioactive waste site in Clarington and I am pleased to see this progress,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the people of Clarington as we develop and implement a solution that benefits the community and protects the environment,” Minister Raitt said.
Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission managed the environmental assessment which was conducted pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The assessment involved scientific study of the existing environment, analysis of anticipated environmental effects and the development of mitigation measures to reduce those effects. The assessment also included broad consultation with the community as well as with technical experts from the provincial and federal governments.
With the approval of the environmental assessment by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Natural Resources Canada, the Port Granby Project will move to the regulatory review stage. This stage, which involves the securing of the required license, will take about one year.
The project was initiated through an agreement signed in March 2001 between the Government of Canada and the municipalities of Port Hope and Clarington and the former Township of Hope. The Government of Canada has committed $260 million as part of the Port Hope Area Initiative to implement locally developed solutions for the safe clean-up and long-term management of low-level radioactive waste in Clarington and Port Hope.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Plans to clean up an old low-level radioactive waste site in Clarington took a major step forward today with the announcement by Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt that the environmental assessment for the Port Granby Project has been approved. The federal government consulted extensively with the community and technical experts in conducting the assessment, which concluded that the project is unlikely to have significant adverse effects, provided that recommended mitigation measures are implemented.
Copies of the environmental assessment screening report are available from the following addresses:
Joanne Smith
Natural Resources Canada
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A OE4
Project Information Exchange Office
196 Toronto Road
Port Hope, ON
L1A 3V5
Media may contact:
Jocelyne Turner
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
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