Stabenow, Peters Oppose Canadian Plan To Bury Nuclear Waste Near Lake Huron
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (WWJ.AP) - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters of Michigan have introduced a resolution urging the Obama administration to fight a Canadian plan to bury nuclear waste underground less than a mile from Lake Huron.
"Canada's proposed nuclear waste dump on the shores of Lake Huron puts our Great Lakes at risk of radioactive contamination that could have devastating consequences for future generations," said Stabenow, in a media release. "I have expressed my strong objections to the Canadian government directly, and today's resolution puts additional pressure on the Canadians to stop this plan."
The measure is similar to one offered last week by Democratic Rep. Dan Kildee of Flint Township. Both are non-binding but seek to put Congress on record in opposition to Ontario Power Generation's proposal.
The company wants to bury 7.1 million cubic feet of low- and intermediate-level waste from its nuclear plants about 2,230 feet below the earth's surface at the Bruce Power generating station near Kincardine, Ontario.
The company says it would be safely entombed in thick rock. Opponents fear radioactivity eventually will migrate to Lake Huron.
"Preserving the health and safety of the Great Lakes is critical to Michigan's environment and economy," said Peters.
"Building a permanent nuclear waste dump in such close proximity to Lake Huron could cause significant, lasting damage to this precious resource and undermine the progress we have made cleaning up the water quality in the Great Lakes Basin. The Canadian government should seek out an alternative site, and I urge the State Department to take action to keep this troubling project from moving forward."
The resolutions call for finding a better location, also urging the U.S. and Canada to "develop a safe and responsible solution" for the long-term storage of nuclear waste.
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