Chris Lowrey
SHEENBORO August 6, 2017
The Old Fort William Cottagers’ Association (OFWCA) let it be known that they are vehemently against the proposed near surface disposal facility (NSDF) at the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) site in Chalk River.
More than 30 boats and 150 people hit the windy waters of the Ottawa River on Aug. 6 to protest the NSDF. After the protest, the boaters gathered at the Hotel Pontiac for a brief get together.

The facility has proposed a one million cubic metre storage facility that will house low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste.
The storage facility will be located 1 km from the river, which has angered many cottagers.
“We’re not just concerned about our community but we’re concerned about the entire Ottawa River,” said OFWCA member Johanna Echlin. “It does not live up to the international standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”
The OFWCA has been leading the charge in opposition to the NSDF along with other groups from the Ontario side of the river.
The group has passed motions in the past stating that it is opposed to the location of the facility. Recently, they took it a step further by passing a resolution stating that they are opposed to the entire project.
“This isn’t storage, it’s disposal,” Echlin said. “Which means it’ll eventually be abandoned.”
The efforts of the OFWCA have not gone unnoticed. On Aug. 10, Bloc Québécois leader Martine Ouellet will be paying the group a visit to hear their case and lend her support.
“She is an expert in all these fields,” said Echlin. “She worked for Hydro Quebec for 20 odd years. She has a background in science and the environment so she is a really good spokesperson.”
Ultimately, the current plan is not good enough for the OFWCA and they want to see a change from CNL.
“We want it removed from the river and we want a better facility,” Echlin said. “We’re saying that they should go back to the drawing board and come up with a much better facility.”