June 02, 2005
*Pickering News Advertiser
PICKERING - With the possibility of Pickering being home to nuclear waste for another 60 years, Maurice Brenner wants to know where the compensation is for the last 30.
The Pickering Ward 1 regional councillor was questioning Elizabeth Dowdeswell, president of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, after her presentation at the May 24 Pickering management forum meeting.
In the draft report released by the organization the same day, it laid out long-term options for the storage of nuclear waste. An underground repository in a yet-to-be determined community looks like the option of choice, with that community to receive compensation for hosting the repository.
Coun. Brenner questioned if there would be compensation for Pickering for holding the waste for the next 30, if not 60 years, until the long-term facility is built.
"Thirty years by my standard is long-term and by the residents of Pickering's (it is) long term," he said. "What's it going to take to get it on the public agenda?"
Ms. Dowdeswell said the issue could be taken into consideration as the report is discussed before finalization in the fall.
Coun. Brenner also asked about compensation for the time that the waste has already been here.
"When can we expect equity and fairness retroactive to the 30 years this has been in our community?" he asked.
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