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Port Hope Area Initiative - MeDIA RELEASES

Public Awareness and Confidence in Port Hope Area Initiative Remain High

January 28, 2010 - A strong majority of Port Hope residents are satisfied with their community, aware of the presence of historic low-level radioactive waste, yet hardly ever think about the issue. These results are among the findings of an independent public attitude survey conducted by Intellipulse Inc. in November 2009.

The telephone survey, which was conducted for the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO), polled 350 people in Port Hope (250 in Ward 1 and 100 in Ward 2) to find out how knowledgeable residents are about efforts to clean up and manage the historic low-level radioactive waste and if they are confident that this work can be done safely. This was the eighth consecutive year that the survey was conducted in Port Hope.

Over three-quarters of the residents polled continue to express confidence that the waste can be safely managed at the proposed new facility, rising from 65 percent in 2002 to 78 percent in 2009. As in previous surveys, residents expressed a high level of satisfaction with life in Port Hope, with over 90 percent saying they like living in the community. At the same time, 75 percent of respondents say they think about low-level radioactive waste in the community "not very often" or "never".

Thirty-three percent of those surveyed indicated that "radioactive waste (which includes "relocation of the waste","radioactive waste in general" and "groups or people complaining about the waste") was the most important issue facing the community, with "unemployment and lack of economic growth" named by 25 percent of respondents. Eighty-nine percent of respondents identified the clean-up of low-level radioactive waste in Port Hope as either "very important" or "somewhat important".

Awareness of the Port Hope Area Initiative is at its highest ever at 87 percent and most respondents are satisfied with accessibility of information and their opportunities to provide input to the Port Hope Project. Twenty percent of respondents identify PHAI MO staff as the source for the most accurate and complete information about the Project, with independent, qualified scientists and the Municipality of Port Hope ranking slightly lower.

The Port Hope Area Initiative also offers the Property Value Protection (PVP) Program, which protects residents from losses on the sale, mortgaging or rental of property as it relates to the conduct of the Port Hope Project. Forty-one percent of all respondents said they were familiar with the PVP Program, while 49 percent of those with property in the area covered by the PVP Program indicated familiarity with the Program.

A summary of the results of this survey, as well as the previous annual surveys can be found on the PHAI Web site at www.phai.ca or by visiting the Project Information Exchange at 5 Mill Street South in downtown Port Hope.

The Port Hope Area Initiative is dedicated to the clean up and long term management of historic low-level radioactive waste in the municipalities of Port Hope and Clarington. The PHAI MO is a joint effort led by Natural Resources Canada in partnership with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd and Public Works and Government Services Canada.

For further information, media may contact:
Bob Neufeld
Manager, Stakeholder Relations and Communications
Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office
(905) 885-6197
neufeldr@aecl.ca

CNSC decision is good news for Port Hope

Monday October 19, 2009 10:00 AM PORT HOPE - The Municipality of Port Hope is pleased with today's announcement by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) of the approval of a five year licence for the Port Hope Project.

"The Commission's decision is good news for Port Hope," said Mayor Linda Thompson. "The Municipality strongly supported the licence application by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the granting of this licence brings us one step closer to the environmental cleanup we have anticipated for so long."

This licence approval allows AECL, on behalf of Natural Resources Canada, to proceed with plans that will lead to the long-awaited removal and long-term management of approximately 1.2 million cubic metres of historic low-level radioactive waste.

The waste, generated by the former Crown Corporation Eldorado, is currently stored in a number of locations around Port Hope, but with the cleanup, it will be consolidated in an engineered mound west of Baulch Road and south of Highway 401, where it will be safely managed in perpetuity.

"As I understand it, the approval of this licence initiates a process in which the Municipality and citizens will work with the PHAI as plans are developed for the removal, transportation and emplacement of waste, the design of long-term management site, and the remediation of current sites," explains Port Hope's Deputy Mayor Jeff Lees, who chairs the Municipality's Protection to Persons and Property Committee.

At a licensing hearing held in Port Hope on August 26-27, close to 100 intervenors made oral and written submissions to the CNSC, the overwhelming majority supporting AECL's application for a Waste Nuclear Substance licence that will take the project through the design and construction phases.

"Although numerous studies have demonstrated that Port Hope has always been a healthy place to live, work and play, the cleanup will give peace of mind, once and for all, to residents and visitors. Natural Resources Canada has confirmed that the Municipality will continue to be fully engaged in the remediation and waste-management process," Mayor Thompson added.

AECL, through the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI), will oversee the removal of the waste and the design and construction of the engineered mound, as well as the final remediation of all temporary storage sites. The granting of the licence means AECL can begin to develop a detailed design for the new long-term waste management facility, with the cleanup expected to begin in 2011.

CNSC Record of Proceedings, Including Reasons for Decision

Media Release - CNSC Licence decision.doc

For more information, contact:

Linda Thompson, Mayor
Municipality of Port Hope
905.885.4544
mayor@porthope.ca
 

Near Unanimous Approval for Cleanup in Port Hope as Milestone Hearing Approaches

PORT HOPE, August 24, 2009 - At the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's (CNSC) licensing hearing being held in Port Hope on August 26, the Municipality of Port Hope will express its strong support for the application by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. for a Waste Nuclear Substance Licence to operate a long-term low-level radioactive waste management facility west of Baulch Road and south of Highway 401, in Port Hope.

The Municipality will make this intervention before the CNSC on behalf of the vast majority of local residents who want to see the cleanup of historic low-level radioactive waste proceed as quickly as possible, with a minimum of disruption and a maximum degree of safety. The cleanup project will see the transportation of over 1-million cubic metres of low-level radioactive waste currently stored at various locations within the Municipality to a long-term engineered containment mound. Previous plans for cleanup have been advanced for the past 30 years, but none has come this far.

"We have read the submissions from residents and are pleased to note that, as expected, the overwhelming majority of the intervenors are in favour of the cleanup project moving ahead as soon as possible, while safeguarding the environment and residents," said Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson. "That is also the position of the Municipality."

"Virtually none of the interventions expresses opposition to the cleanup," she noted. "We expect the cleanup initiative to be a catalyst for bringing the community together for a common goalâ??an enhanced environment and improved reputation," continued the Mayor.

The Municipality submitted a written intervention, prepared with the help of the Municipal Peer Review Team, outlining specific issues of importance to the Municipality and supporting the licence application. Mayor Thompson will make a verbal presentation at the hearing, along with Chief Administrative Officer Carl Cannon and Mark Stevenson of Hardy Stevenson and Associates Ltd. The Municipality engaged Hardy Stevenson in 2003 to provide technical support and advice to Council on matters pertaining to the Port Hope Area Initiative. Mr. Stevenson is the Municipality's Project Manager of Peer Review on the Port Hope Project.

"The job of the Peer Review Team is to protect the Municipality's interests throughout the preparation and cleanup process, ensuring the cleanup meets high standards of thoroughness and safety. The Peer Review Team's technical input forms the basis for the matters the Municipality has addressed in its intervention," said Mr. Stevenson.

"We are looking forward to a favourable decision on the licence by the CNSC, which would mark a major milestone in Port Hope's decades-long effort to resolve the issue of historic low-level radioactive waste," said Deputy Mayor Jeff Lees. "The Municipality of Port Hope is already a great place to live, work or invest, and the cleanup can only enhance that image."

The hearing begins at 8:30 a.m. August 26, at the Town Park Recreation Centre, 62 McCaul St., Port Hope. Anyone can attend, however, only those who submitted interventions prior to the deadline of July 27, stating their intention to address the meeting, or who are called as witnesses, may be heard. Because there are over 100 intervenors, more than 40 of whom have oral presentations, the hearing may continue into the evening.

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Municipality Pleased with Overwhelming Local Support for Port Hope LLRW Cleanup

PORT HOPE, August 13, 2009 - Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson and the members of Municipal Council are pleased by the overwhelming support that has been expressed by local residents for the proposed cleanup of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) in Port Hope. The cleanup and remediation efforts will be the subject of a hearing by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) that will take place in Port Hope on Wednesday, August 26, 2009.

In preparation for the hearing, a preliminary draft agenda released by the CNSC indicates that intervenor status has been granted to 100 individuals, families, businesses and other agencies who applied to make an oral or written presentation at the hearing. Over 40 intervenors will make oral presentations that day.

The vast majority of those interventions appear to support the licence application by the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) for the removal and long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste currently stored in various locations around Port Hope. A majority of those in favour of the cleanup cited issues with Port Hope's image related to the presence of low-level radioactive waste. Many felt the presence of the waste, and negative perceptions by the public and business community, are responsible for losses in tourism, residential, industrial and commercial development in Port Hope.

Numerous supporters also stated that the cleanup would bring "peace of mind" to current residents and they referred to an "honourable legacy," leaving a clean environment for the future. Many mentioned the fact that Port Hope has waited over 30 years for this cleanup to take place, and urged the CNSC to grant the licence so the cleanup can proceed as soon as possible.

A small minority of the interventions seem to oppose the current licensing application and some expressed various related questions or viewpoints, but did not state a position either for or against the licence.

"I am very optimistic about the outcome," said Mayor Thompson after reviewing all the interventions. "I believe the opinions expressed represent a good proportional cross-section of opinion amongst the residents of Port Hope, with 80 per cent in favour of proceeding with the cleanup as soon as possible."

Deputy Mayor Jeff Lees, Chair of the Protection to Persons Property Committee stated, "The majority of local citizens support the cleanup and I am very happy to see that majority represented in the list of interventions. Port Hope is a great community and when the cleanup is complete it will be even better."

The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on August 26, 2009 at the Town Park Recreation Centre on McCaul Street in Port Hope. Anyone may attend, but only those who have been already been listed as intervenors on the agenda, or will be called as witnesses, may address the hearing. Seating will be provided on a first-come basis. The CNSC will webcast the hearing live on the Internet at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca and the local TVCogeco cable station will broadcast the hearing on its Channel 10.

Carl Cannon, Chief Administrative Officer, noted, "We are looking forward to a favourable decision on the licence by CNSC, after which the Port Hope Area Initiative will complete the detailed design for the Project and then begin the cleanup process - including safe removal of waste, transportation to a long-term engineered site south of Highway 401 near Baulch Road, and remediation of the temporary and long-term storage sites."

A copy of the Agenda including a list of intervenors is available on the CNSC website: www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca/eng/. Anyone can request copies of interventions in advance of the hearing, as well as the detailed presentations to be made by the proponent, AECL, and by CNSC staff, by calling 1-800-668-5284 or by writing to Louise Levert, Secretariat, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, 280 Slater St., P.O. Box 1046, Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9, or by emailing interventions@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.

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Municipality Supports License Application for Cleanup and Long-Term Management of LLRW

PORT HOPE, July 21, 2009 - At its Committee of the Whole meeting of July 21, Council of the Municipality of Port Hope heard and endorsed a report presented by its peer review consultant, Mark Stevenson of Hardy Stevenson and Associates, recommending a supportive intervention when the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission holds a hearing on licensing approval for the Port Hope Project, part of the Port Hope Area Initiative, next month.

The applicant for the license at the August 26 hearing is Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., on behalf of the Government of Canada. The Port Hope Area Initiative is a key Project within AECL.

The Hardy Stevenson report highlighted expected benefits of the cleanup project to remove and safely manage the historic low-level radioactive waste currently situated at a number of sites in the Municipality. The purpose of the initiative is to remove this waste and transport it safely to an engineered containment mound near Highway 401 and Baulch Road. Current sites will be remediated and, when all waste is safely contained for the long term in the mound, active and passive recreational facilities will be created on and around the mound site.

"Residents and past Councils, as well as the current Council, have worked hard over the past 30 years or more to have the historic LLRW in the community cleaned up," the Hardy Stevenson report points out.

The report concludes with recommendations that the Municipality continue to work with Natural Resources Canada and the CNSC on the engineering design and other technical documentation for the cleanup project, and that the CNSC include and address the Municipality's comments on the detailed design and documentation; that the license include a provision that cleanup criteria be adjusted during the process to reflect changes in federal and/or provincial regulatory standards or guidelines and further that no modification to the application of the criteria proceed without Municipal review and agreement. It also recommends the Municipality advise the CNSC that this project is very important to Port Hope, and should move forward as quickly as possible, while ensuring protection of the public, workers and the environment.

"This is an excellent report and points out the value of the Peer Review Team whose expertise goes beyond that of Council or Staff in these matters, and whose recommendations give Council and the public the reassurance that there is independent comment and oversight on the cleanup process," said Deputy Mayor Jeff Lees, chair of the Protection of Persons and Property Committee of Council.

"We are extremely pleased that the Port Hope Project has now moved to the licensing stage. For the community, this has been a long time coming. Previous attempts at resolving this long-standing environmental issue did not progress to this stage. The cleanup could soon become a reality. I look forward to the hearing and to CNSC granting a license for the Port Hope Area Initiative to proceed," said Mayor Linda Thompson.

The licensing hearing will take place in Port Hope, at the Town Park Recreation Centre on McCaul Street on August 26, 2009. Deadlines for receipt of interventions is July 27.

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Mayor of Port Hope Applauds Latest Survey Results

PORT HOPE, January 29, 2008 - Port Hope Mayor Linda Thompson told councillors at this evening's municipal council meeting that she was pleased with the results of the 6th annual survey of public attitudes regarding the clean-up of historic low-level radioactive waste in the community, and pledged to continue to strive to keep residents informed of any new developments with the project.

"The survey conducted by the Port Hope Area Initiative shows once again that Port Hope residents are much more knowledgeable than most about radioactive waste issues, and they remain confident that the issues in their community are being managed appropriately," Mayor Thompson said. She also noted that residents confirm that Port Hope is a great place to liveâ??more than 90% of residents are satisfied with living in their community, with 72% being "very satisfied."

Mayor Thompson said Port Hope residents benefit from having many reliable and authoritative sources of factual information available to them, including materials prepared by various federal government agencies, as well as Port Hope's own group of scientific peer review consultants who have been engaged to provide independent advice to the Municipality.

The Mayor stated that Port Hope is a healthy community. She cited a recent report submitted to Council by University of Toronto Professor Murray Finkelstein, Ph.D, MDMC, an expert on the health effects of environmental contaminants, as the kind of solid, scientific information that residents of Port Hope have come to rely on. She added that Dr. Finkelstein's report is supported by the recent Health Canada statement that concluded: "Health and environmental studies carried out in Port Hope over the years do not show any health effects from past or present exposures to radiation." These findings are supported by many other independent studies. (Note: The executive summary of the PHAI survey and both reports cited in this release are available on the Municipality's web site at www.porthope.ca.)

"Because they are better informed, Port Hope residents have a healthy scepticism about inaccurate stories that are circulated outside the community," Mayor Thompson added. "They demand the facts. As a Municipality, we remain committed to providing this solid, independent information that residents want."

For more information, contact: