Détails needed

The current guidelines fail to address a major concerned raised raised by most everyone who lives, works, plays along the transportation route of the nuclear waste from its original site to the DGR area. That is the serious issue of how the NWMO project will ensure our safety and health in the event of adverse effects and prevent irreparable harms to our surroundings all along the routes of travel. My concerns are also informed as a wheelchair user recognizing the vulnerability inaccessible services and physical pathways create and enhance.

Road accidents happen all the time and with increasing frequency. The guidelines must instruct the NWMO to include the entire transportation route in their project and not only the area of the nuclear waste dump; to assess adequate and relevant preparedness and training for emergency services/first responders/clinics and hospitals all along the transportation corridors in the case of an accident and possible radioactive contamination; ensure effective monitoring mechanisms as long as the safety/health risks exist; consider evacuation and other actions that might be needed all along the transportation routes, especially in the small communities lacking infrastructure; ensure the engagement of all the First Nation communities along the entire route, as is required, to enable their free, prior and informed consent.

These are pretty basic concerns for people to be able to put any trust at all in the transportation of radioactive contaminants through our communities. The guidelines failure to impose rigorous requirements for the entirety of the project will prevent NWMO from fulfilling its stated purpose of finding a socially acceptable way of harnessing the danger of years and years of accumulated radioactive waste. Moreover until such a solution is devised and proven effective there needs to be a halt to all plans for using nuclear energy. Alternatives exist, are far, far less  costly, can provide good jobs and prevent environmental and human catastrophe.

NWMO's DGR project is a huge endeavor spanning vast territories and affecting innumerable populations. We deserve as do future generations detailed descriptions of all its components and all the alternatives. THe impact assessment must be done with a mind to prevention of adverse effects - from environmental risks to cultural and ecological devastation to the safety and health of all- rather than mitigation. Long distance hauling of nuclear contaminants through our communities is very much integral to the réalisation of this project.