Province cancels plans to haul radioactive waste to a small northern Ontario community
Ontario's Ministry of Transportation says it has cancelled plans to haul radioactive waste along Highway 17 from Nipissing First Nation to the small northern Ontario Township of Nairn and Hyman.
Instead, niobium mine tailings from a former mill in Nipissing First Nation has been transported to the Clean Harbors hazardous waste facility in Sarnia, Ont. The tailings have low-level radiation from small amounts of uranium contained in the ore.
Nipissing First Nation Chief Cathy Stevens said work to remove the tailings started in July and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
"We want our community to finally feel safe in their environment and living in their backyards," Stevens said.
The 18,600 cubic metres of tailings were from the Nova Beaucage Mine near Lake Nipissing and sat at a mill in the community, located near a residential area, for 70 years.
The original plan was for the radioactive material to be transported to the abandoned Agnew Lake uranium mine near Nairn and Hyman, a township of around 400 people west of Sudbury.
That plan sparked several public meetings in the community and some pushback from residents.
"People were very concerned that the site had been left in such disrepair, that there was possible leaching of really toxic minerals or heavy metals into the groundwater," said Belinda Ketchabaw, the township's chief administrative officer.
Stevens said she didn't understand the opposition to the plan from Nairn and Hyman since the township was already home to an abandoned uranium mine.
Ketchabaw said Nairn and Hyman garnered support from local politicians, which she believes contributed to the Ministry of Transportation's change of plans. Stevens credited Nipissing First Nation's lands department for pushing the province to move the tailings.
"This decision was made in coordination with Nipissing First Nation and the Ministry of Energy and Mines," Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Tanya Blazina said in an email to CBC News.
Ketchabaw said the municipality also had assurances the province would remediate the abandoned Agnew Lake uranium mine – near Nairn and Hyman – and the former mill in Nipissing First Nation.
"To be honest, we're just happy that we're moving forward in a safe way for everyone," she said.
"Like it, It did need to leave the area of where it was. It was in a residential area of Nipissing First Nation and absolutely had to leave there. But we didn't want it here when there were too many question marks."
Corrections:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Fire closes landfill in North Bay
Officials in North Bay say the Merrick Landfill is closed until further notice due to a fire on the tipping face. (File) Officials in North Bay say the Merrick Landfill is closed until further notice Tuesday due to a fire on the tipping face. 'North Bay Fire and Emergency Services is currently on site,' the city said on social media. 'Further updates will be provided as they become available.' Deputy fire chief Greg Saunders said in an email that firefighters from Station 1 responded at 7 a.m. 'The heaviest fire has been extinguished, but crews will remain on site for much of the day working to make sure that the fire is fully extinguished,' Saunders said. 'The landfill is currently closed at this time. We do not know for how long. The cause of the fire has not been determined.' This story will be updated when new information is available.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Why northern Ontario radioactive waste ended up in Corunna — starting in July
Niobium rock tailings have low-level radiation from small amounts of uranium contained in ore Caption: The province originally intended to ship radioactive waste from an old northern Ontario mill to a community near Sudbury. That's since been changed to a privately run disposal facility near Sarnia. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images) Ontario's Ministry of Transportation says some of the radioactive waste from an old mill near Lake Nipissing has already made its way to the Sarnia area. The material sat at the mill for 70 years and was originally supposed to be shipped near Sudbury. That resulted in a year-long public outcry from Nairn and Hyman community members — a township of roughly 400 people. The tailings have low-level radiation from small amounts of uranium contained in ore. On Wednesday, it was announced the province had already shifted its plans on where the waste would end up. The facility it went to is Clean Harbors in Corunna, located in St. Clair Township within Lambton County, according to the province. "A stockpile of niobium rock tailings was transported to a private licensed disposal facility run by Clean Harbors near Sarnia in July, in accordance with all regulatory requirements," said Julia Casin, in a statement, from the transportation ministry. CBC News did not hear back from Clean Harbors by publication. Casin says when it comes to transporting all mining materials, the ministry upholds "strict safety and environmental stands" when moving niobium rock tailings. Niobium rock tailings are not classified as a hazardous substance, and their movement is considered a low-risk operation, according to the province. Nipissing First Nation Chief Cathy Stevens previously told CBC News work to remove the tailings is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
Province cancels plans to haul radioactive waste to a small northern Ontario community
Niobium tailings transported to a hazardous waste facility near Sarnia instead Ontario's Ministry of Transportation says it has cancelled plans to haul radioactive waste along Highway 17 from Nipissing First Nation to the small northern Ontario Township of Nairn and Hyman. Instead, niobium mine tailings from a former mill in Nipissing First Nation has been transported to the Clean Harbors hazardous waste facility in Sarnia, Ont. The tailings have low-level radiation from small amounts of uranium contained in the ore. Nipissing First Nation Chief Cathy Stevens said work to remove the tailings started in July and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. "We want our community to finally feel safe in their environment and living in their backyards," Stevens said. The 18,600 cubic metres of tailings were from the Nova Beaucage Mine near Lake Nipissing and sat at a mill in the community, located near a residential area, for 70 years. The original plan was for the radioactive material to be transported to the abandoned Agnew Lake uranium mine near Nairn and Hyman, a township of around 400 people west of Sudbury. That plan sparked several public meetings in the community and some pushback from residents. "People were very concerned that the site had been left in such disrepair, that there was possible leaching of really toxic minerals or heavy metals into the groundwater," said Belinda Ketchabaw, the township's chief administrative officer. Stevens said she didn't understand the opposition to the plan from Nairn and Hyman since the township was already home to an abandoned uranium mine. Ketchabaw said Nairn and Hyman garnered support from local politicians, which she believes contributed to the Ministry of Transportation's change of plans. Stevens credited Nipissing First Nation's lands department for pushing the province to move the tailings. "This decision was made in coordination with Nipissing First Nation and the Ministry of Energy and Mines," Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Tanya Blazina said in an email to CBC News. Ketchabaw said the municipality also had assurances the province would remediate the abandoned Agnew Lake uranium mine – near Nairn and Hyman – and the former mill in Nipissing First Nation. "To be honest, we're just happy that we're moving forward in a safe way for everyone," she said. "Like it, It did need to leave the area of where it was. It was in a residential area of Nipissing First Nation and absolutely had to leave there. But we didn't want it here when there were too many question marks." Corrections:
