Dear Editor,
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has recently refused a request made by 27 different individuals and organizations to hold additional open houses along the Ottawa River in Quebec and Ontario.
In early October, the CNSC offered open houses in three different communities, Sheenboro, Deep River and Pembroke, regarding the environmental assessment of CNL’s proposed massive, above-ground mound for the disposal of radioactive waste at Chalk River. These three locations are close to Chalk River but environmental damage could extend hundreds of kilometres downriver. The request to the CNSC was made in a letter dated Sept. 27.
The initiative was spearheaded by Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive due to the shared belief that it is vitally important that people all along the Ottawa River (in Gatineau, Ottawa, Laval and Montreal, for example) have access to the same information regarding the environmental assessment (EA) process. People depending on the Ottawa River must be afforded the possibility to ask questions directly to the CNSC regarding the EA process. However, the CNSC stated in its reply that it is committed to holding open houses only in communities in “close proximity” to Chalk River.
It appears that there is no regard for the fact that radioactive contamination from the proposed massive mound may well affect communities all along the river, not just in the local vicinity. Why are people in Gatineau and Ottawa not afforded the same privileges? How can it be that only communities in close proximity are entitled to receive information in an open house setting? We expect that Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive will pursue this further with the full support of Old Fort William Cottagers’ Association and all the other organizations and individuals who signed the original letter.

Johanna Echlin
Old Fort William Cottagers’ Association
Sheenboro, Que.