Concerns about Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada's Used Nuclear Fuel Project

Initial Project Description APM-REP-05000-0211and support for a Comprehensive Impact Assessment for the DGR.

I live in Manitoba, and close to Lake Winnipeg, which is in the watershed of the proposed repository of nuclear waste.

My concerns -

We need an Impact Assessment of the Deep Geological Repository for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel.

This is too short a period of time for public input, just 30 days for feedback on this very complex and possibly very hazardous project!  This is not enough time and totally inadequate for reviewing such a major project.

Transportation of the nuclear waste is not addressed, and should be, as many trucks carrying extremely toxic and dangerous materials would be driving through our communities and lands, on some very dangerous roads, Hwys 11 and 17 for example.  This is just not safe.  Five truckloads a day from Southern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and there is the possibility of crashes.

Storage concerns - I don’t have confidence that the radioactive material will be fully contained over the many years of storage.  It is irresponsible to have nuclear waste stored where it can get into our large watershed and poison future generations. Nuclear fuel waste remains toxic and radioactive for hundreds of thousands of years.

Nuclear energy is not a solution to our energy needs, and not a Climate Change solution.  It is slow to build, highly costly, unsafe technology, and emits lots of Greenhouse Gases.

Reasons to not pursue any more nuclear:

• its high cost relative to renewables
• the inability to replace fossil fuels in time to mitigate the crisis 
• pollution is created during all stages of the nuclear cycle 
• the links to nuclear weapons proliferation
• the problem of nuclear waste management

Thank you.