Home      About Us      Press Releases      Reports      Events      Committees      Join FARE      Contact «Press Releases Write in to stop Cameco reopening polluting plant Make them clean up huge uranium spill F.A.R.E. is calling for a write-in campaign by communities and organizations around Lake Ontario to protest the reopening of a Port Hope uranium facility that has leaked thousands of cubic metres of toxic and radioactive contamination. Cameco Corporation CEO Jerry Grandey says his company hopes to get CNSC approval to reopen its uranium hexafluoride plant by the end of September. The leaking has been going on for at least 10 years, perhaps 20, according to the company, which is the world’s largest producer of uranium. The plant has been shut down for a year. But Canada’s nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) seems to be about to let it reopen without having to clean up its contamination. The only way to stop this is if you, our neighbours around the lake, register your concern. We hope you will write to the authorities listed below. Background Federal documents obtained by a member of a citizen’s environmental group in Port Hope, Families Against Radiation Exposure (F.A.R.E.), verify the following facts: 1. A Golder Associates report to Cameco, dated March 10, 2008, says eight contaminants have leaked into the soil beneath the company’s uranium hexafluoride plant (Building 50) – uranium, arsenic, fluoride, silver, cobalt, copper, nickel and antimony. All exceed Province of Ontario standards for industrial soil. 2. Contaminants include an estimated 1,000 to 1,700 kilograms of uranium (U235 and U238), most of which is above the level Canada deems safe. Only about 10 to 17 percent of this has been removed. 3. Also spilled were an estimated 20,000 to 26,000 kilograms of fluoride (from a process that uses highly toxic hydrofluoric acid). Only 2 to 7 percent of this has been removed. 4. Cameco argues that cleaning up any more is too expensive, will take too long, and might undermine its building. The nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, has accepted this argument, apparently without doing its own soil or water tests. “There is no regulatory or risk basis for the removal of 100% of contaminated soils under Building 50 at this time,” CNSC chair Michael Binder said in an Aug. 14 letter to the F.A.R.E. member. 5. Concentrations of uranium in groundwater have been measured up to 1,200 times higher than Ontario guidelines. 6. Thousands more kilograms of uranium, fluoride and arsenic have leaked out beyond Building 50 and reached Lake Ontario (as Cameco’s map shows). But the CNSC says that, based on the company’s tests, “ground water and surface water monitoring data indicate that workers and members of the public are not exposed to levels of contaminants that represent a health risk.” 7. F.A.R.E. has called on Ontario’s Ministry of Environment to do further tests of this and another leak to determine if Cameco Corporation and the CNSC can be prosecuted under the Environmental Protection Act and the Ontario Water Resources Act. The ministry has not yet responded. 8. Canada’s federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been asked to investigate violations of the Fisheries Act, which prohibits the dumping of any “deleterious substance” into a fish habitat. That department has not yet responded. Please write now: We need your help to stop this and make a polluter clean up. Please write to the following authorities urgently, registering your concern for the safety of our drinking water and fisheries: Michael Binder, chair Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 280 Slater St. P.O. Box 1046, Station B Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1P 5S9 The Hon. Loyola Hearn Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Parliament Buildings Wellington Street Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1A 0A6 John Gerretsen Minister of Environment, Ontario 12th floor, 135 St. Clair Ave. West Toronto, Ontario CANADA M4V 1P5 Mayor Linda Thompson Municipality of Port Hope 56 Queen St. P.O. Box 117 Port Hope, Ontario CANADA L1A 3V9 Jerry Grandey President and CEO Cameco Corporation 2121 11th St. West Saskatoon, Saskatchewan CANADA S7M 1J3 »See Cameco’s own PowerPoint presentation, showing the plume of groundwater contamination that has been leaking uranium into Lake Ontario. Scary map shows how much Cameco pollutes harbour CNSC says it must stop before low-level clean-up Does the CNSC believe THIS?? It appears to go against new scientific wisdom CNSC mystery: Was it qualified to say we're safe? Refuses to release qualifications of experts East Beach park contaminated with uranium No one is concerned Cameco lied: CNSC orders it to fix pipe Treatment systems "do not conform" Mayor's views on W-FIVE show are inaccurate Why do Health Canada, CNSC refuse comment? Write in to stop Cameco reopening polluting plant Make them clean up huge uranium spill More and more lies: Cameco's clean-up branded 'deficient' CNSC documents show lots more may be wrong What we want regulator do do Full clean-up needed of leaking uranium Dust emissions top our concerns No targets or plan to curtail uranium Too expensive to clean up all of our waste? We need explanations of delays, extra costs FARE has issues with SEU plans at Zircatec Questions filed to CNSC concerning EA screening Zircatec gets blank cheque from CNSC No mention of concerns registered by FARE Rubber stamp for Zircatec and Cameco CNSC ignores concerns of nearly 300 intervenors Here we go again: CNSC fast-tracks SEU assessment CNSC changes rules to limit public input Evening Guide guilty on "sitting on sidelines" Panders to big advertiser instead of serving people FARE wins Canadian Environment Award Praised for stopping SEU and accurate research Uranium dioxide: We've found proof that it can burn Despite Cameco's claims, its own records don't lie How to register as an intervenor for Oct. 20 hearing CNSC coming to Port Hope and they'll hear an earful Poll: 78 percent of us want a panel review Council gets details of new public opinion poll: More oppose SEU than favour it "Reckless disregard" on fire protection Documents show how CNSC dropped the ball, and why we need a panel review FARE asks 44 questions about CNSC draft report Expects them to be answered before environmental hearings 3 groups demand independent review of SEU May 19 press conference held at Port Hope harbour 3 May 2005 - CNSC response to questions about neutron radiation Press Release 14 April 2005: Questions about Neutron Radiation 30 March 2005: Response from CNSC to FARE letter 26 March 2005: Letter from FARE to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 22 July 2004: Media Release (As read by John Morand) 22 July 2004: Research Sub Committee Statement - read by Patrick McNamara admin@ph-fare.com P.O. Box 202 Port Hope, Ontario L1A 3W3 Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to admin@ph-fare.com. Copyright © 2005 Families Against Radiation Exposure, Inc. All rights reserved. Last modified: 15 April 2005 Archived Information » top of this page « administration

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