Headline: Northern Ontario Township Caught Off Guard by Government’s Radioactive Waste Transport Plan
Residents of a cozy northern Ontario township, just a short drive from Sudbury, were left in shock and disbelief as Ontario revealed its unsettling decision to haul radioactive waste from a derelict mill 200 kilometers away and deposit it in their own community. The unsuspecting folks of Nairn and Hyman, comprising only around 300 residents, were taken aback when construction commenced on the back roads leading to the Agnew Lake Mine, signaling the impending arrival of hazardous materials. This move came as a complete surprise considering the site had laid dormant since the Ministry of Mines’ takeover in the ’90s.
Voicing their dismay, Nairn’s chief administrative officer Belinda Ketchabaw expressed astonishment at the lack of prior information, questioning, “This project has been in the works for years. Why are we only finding out about it now?” The provincial initiative entails relocating 40 tonnes of naturally occurring radioactive substances from a defunct niobium ore processing mill near Nipissing First Nation, which had been operational for a fleeting few months before its closure in the ’50s. The mill’s remnants had long plagued the soil in the First Nation, prompting long-overdue remediation efforts that commenced in 2019.
With the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and the Ministry of Mines now orchestrating the transfer, the selected destination was Nairn’s tailings installation, already accustomed to receiving radioactive waste from the former Agnew Lake Mine of the ’80s. Despite assurances from MTO area manager Darren Stephenson that this endeavor aimed to benefit the receiving community, skepticism loomed among the officials in attendance.
Councilor Trevor McVey illustrated his apprehensions, likening the proposed action to “putting good garbage on bad garbage — we don’t want your garbage.” Discontent amongst council members stemmed from the perceived lack of transparency from the province, fueling apprehension and bewilderment regarding the project’s necessity and potential implications. Urging for greater clarity and safety information, Ketchabaw emphasized the need to involve local emergency services and enhance communication.
Nairn’s Mayor Amy Mazey echoed concerns over mixed messages regarding the project’s risk level and safety measures, demanding holistic answers to the growing list of uncertainties. Dismayed by the historical negligence towards the Agnew Lake Mine tailings, McVey feared a continuation of neglect in the years
Residents of a cozy northern Ontario township, just a short drive from Sudbury, were left in shock and disbelief as Ontario revealed its unsettling decision to haul radioactive waste from a derelict mill 200 kilometers away and deposit it in their own community. The unsuspecting folks of Nairn and Hyman, comprising only around 300 residents, were taken aback when construction commenced on the back roads leading to the Agnew Lake Mine, signaling the impending arrival of hazardous materials. This move came as a complete surprise considering the site had laid dormant since the Ministry of Mines’ takeover in the ’90s.
Voicing their dismay, Nairn’s chief administrative officer Belinda Ketchabaw expressed astonishment at the lack of prior information, questioning, “This project has been in the works for years. Why are we only finding out about it now?” The provincial initiative entails relocating 40 tonnes of naturally occurring radioactive substances from a defunct niobium ore processing mill near Nipissing First Nation, which had been operational for a fleeting few months before its closure in the ’50s. The mill’s remnants had long plagued the soil in the First Nation, prompting long-overdue remediation efforts that commenced in 2019.
With the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and the Ministry of Mines now orchestrating the transfer, the selected destination was Nairn’s tailings installation, already accustomed to receiving radioactive waste from the former Agnew Lake Mine of the ’80s. Despite assurances from MTO area manager Darren Stephenson that this endeavor aimed to benefit the receiving community, skepticism loomed among the officials in attendance.
Councilor Trevor McVey illustrated his apprehensions, likening the proposed action to “putting good garbage on bad garbage — we don’t want your garbage.” Discontent amongst council members stemmed from the perceived lack of transparency from the province, fueling apprehension and bewilderment regarding the project’s necessity and potential implications. Urging for greater clarity and safety information, Ketchabaw emphasized the need to involve local emergency services and enhance communication.
Nairn’s Mayor Amy Mazey echoed concerns over mixed messages regarding the project’s risk level and safety measures, demanding holistic answers to the growing list of uncertainties. Dismayed by the historical negligence towards the Agnew Lake Mine tailings, McVey feared a continuation of neglect in the years
