The following article was published in the local newspaper – North Renfrew times (NRT) – on Wednesday 24 May 2017
Oversight or Incompetenacy
19 May 2017
Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) – proposed by CNL – extension of time for public comment.
So the time period for submission of public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has now been extended to who knows what date. Initially it was to be by deadline of 17 May 2017.
The EIS document is submitted for approval to Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC ) by Golders Associates — on behalf of the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) – for the development of a Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) at Chalk River Laboratories site.
I have had already made my submission of comments (electronically) on the draft EIS document some time back – keeping within the initial deadline announced.
As I understand that this extension period is required due to the need for having the draft EIS document translated into our second Canadian official language (French) – and not because of the request made by the Deep River Council or area citizens for such an extension.
A revised notice will be issued once the translated version of the EIS is available, and CNSC will provide further details on the dates of the public comment period.
Okay – so that is understandable that the document needs to be in both official languages but what is not comprehended is as to why the CNSC did not know about this need at the beginning. It is a simple rule – known by the Canadian establishment for a long time. Does it indicate some gap in competency of our Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)? or was it just an oversight! and not a fumble by the CNSC.
Thus it may pose a question !! If the CNSC cannot carry out this simple administrative requirement (of having the document in our two official languages) at an early stage of the process – how to get confidence/assurance that the Regulatory Body will have professional ability and competence to look at myriad of complex technical, societal and environmental issues related to the development of such an important disposal facility.
While I am fully in favour, in principle, for the development of such a facility at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) site, it behooves on the Regulator to assure the public that the proposed development meets the whole spectrum of safety requirements – and as reviewed by renowned/competent/professional experts.
The devil is in the details.
Pravin Shah
65 Rutherford Av.
Deep River, ON
K0J 1P0
Phone: 613-584-4469