Thu Apr 03, 2008
By Jeanne Beneteau
PORT HOPE - The environmental assessment (EA) for Cameco’s multi-million dollar waterfront site revitalization plan should consider cumulative effects of all simultaneous nuclear-related clean-up activities, said the municipal peer review manager.
At the April 1 protections to persons and property committee, councillors granted consultant Hardy Stevenson and Associates permission to submit comments on Cameco’s Vision 2010 project to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) on the municipality’s behalf. The CNSC issued draft guidelines for the project’s EA on March 5. The deadline for comments on the document is April 11.
Peer review manager Mark Stevenson said Cameco is required to assess cumulative environmental effects the project could have on the environment. The Port Hope Area Initiative, a federally-funded clean-up and storage of historic radioactive waste in Port Hope and Port Granby, in tandem with Vision 2010, and the review team recommends the CNSC require more rigorous cumulative effects studies that take into consideration all the projects, said Mr. Stevenson. The Port Hope marina clean-up will also be happening simultaneously.
In addition, the team recommends the CNSC ensure coordination of all clean-up and remediation activities related to the harbour clean-up, remediation of contaminated sites and transportation issues.
Vision 2010 calls for removal of two-thirds of the site’s existing buildings, equipment and contaminated soils. It also includes construction of new buildings such as a visitor centre and indoor storage for uranium hexafluoride (UF6) cylinders. In a memo dated March 26, Port Hope Chief Administrative Officer Carl Cannon stated Cameco’s Vision 2010 is a great initiative that will benefit Port Hope and help enhance the waterfront.
“The Hardy Stevenson and Associates comments will lead to a better project for Cameco and the community,” stated Mr. Cannon.
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