Troubling: Possible Nuclear Waste Dump to Affect Michigan and Canada Drinking Water

By: Dr. Swygert

I read an interesting article that I would like to share with our reading community. Keith Matheny, a contributor for the Detroit Free Press, published an article on October 27, 2013. The article is entitled, “Fears surface over Lake Huron nuke dump proposal”.

The article highlighted that a small community named Kincardine in Ontario, Canada is engaged in a battle with a local energy company. The alleged company’s name is Ontario Power Generation. The issue at hand is that the company allegedly wants to construct a nuclear waste repository in Lake Huron. This geographical location shares proximity between both Michigan, and Canada.

The company plans to build limestone repository 2,200 feet underground, and capped with a 660-foot layer of shale stone. The citizens in Michigan and Ontario are expressing legitimate skepticism, and reservation. According to the article, 24 million Americans get their drinking water from the Great Lakes, Michigan has a $2.4 billion fishing industry, and accounts for $13 billion tourism industry.

A progressive nonprofit citizens group, Stop the Great Lakes Nuclear Dump, started an online petition and has already gathered tens of thousands of signatures. Citizens are upset that the company is making life altering decisions generated by a company that has an impact on millions of people. Based on the article, the company was in communication with Michigan officials about the plans, however no formal period for public comments or forums were made available to the citizens to discuss concerns. The nonprofit group’s voice is not alone, two other environmental entities are providing some pushback. The Michigan United Conservation Clubs, and The Michigan Boating Industries Association are joining in to express concern.

The company said that they are trying to build a repository that can last for at least a million years. The company also asserts that they are conducting research and surveys to account for leakage risks from earthquakes, and future ice glaciers. The company bolsters their position that construction of this would create jobs for the citizens.

My thoughts

I think that both Michigan and Canadian citizens raise legitimate concerns about construction of this repository. When I think of the devastating birth defects from the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, I have to really scrutinize this from all angles. I’m also considering the environmental impact of the Fukushima nuclear reactor spill that has hurt Japan. This spill rendered all water and seafood unfit for consumption. I’m wondering can the nuclear waste be recycled through some chemical process, or be used in Aerospace operations. I don’t know if they can, but just throwing out possible ideas. However, I also understand the position of one of the surveyors in the article. To paraphrase he said “would you rather have this nuclear waste stored in a plant above ground miles away from individuals?” This is a true quagmire. I wonder can we arrive at a safe, logical and harmonious compromise.

I often say to myself, “our inventions will be our assassins”. We develop a lot of innovative science and technology, but sometimes we create our own Pandora’s Box. I think we can be better stewards of our environment, and be good to Mother Nature. We can’t grow anymore land. We live on an exact and finite mass, so let’s protect it and be more concerned. I like my Evian, Flounder, Whiting, and Pollock.

What are your thoughts and feelings about this?