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2007
Curmudgeon's Corner
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Archives .Fax to the Honorable John Baird, Federal Environment Minister, re:
need for independent panel environmental assessment of Ontario Power
Generation’s proposed deep underground radioactive waste dump at its Bruce
site in Kincardine, Ontario, January 15, 2007 .Full Panel EA needed for
proposed Bruce underground nuke waste site, January 15, 2007
Hon. John Baird Minister of the Environment House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6   Dear Minister Baird,  The December 21, 2006, recommendation of the
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) that the environmental assessment
of Ontario Power Generation’s proposed deep underground radioactive waste
dump at its Bruce site in Kincardine, Ontario, be upgraded (‘bumped up’)
from a comprehensive study to a panel review is a welcome development.  
However, I have recently been given to understand that the CNSC itself
intends to conduct the panel review. For many good and valid reasons,
conduct of a panel review and public hearings by the CNSCin this situation
would really be quite an unacceptable way of achieving the kind of
democratic process and accountability to the Canadian people required for a
matter of such major environmental importance.  Based on an April 26, 2006
letter to me, from former environment minister, Rona Ambrose, (see below), I
made the logical assumption that if such a public review were to be
undertaken, it would involve an independent panel appointed by the federal
minister of environment under provisions of the Canadian Environmental
Assessment Act (CEAA). That process would include the presentation of
evidence to the panel, and cross-examination of witnesses. Further, the
panel could modify the scope of the hearing, and solicit its own experts.
 Ms. Ambrose told me that The CNSC would provide her with a report,
“...recommending the appropriate level of environmental assessment for this
project.” She stated that she “...will then make a decision as to whether to
refer the project back to CNSC to continue the comprehensive study, or to
refer the project to a mediator or a review panel.” (See my letter of March
8, 2006, below)  Since she obviously did not seek CNSC continuation of the
comprehensive study approach, then it would be up to you, as the new
minister, to make the appropriate referral to a “mediator or a review
panel.”Again, the only logical venue for such a public environmental
assessment of this kind, would be under the provisions of the CEAA.   Thank
you for the opportunity to make my views known and that they will be
seriously considered.  Regards,  Walt Robbins

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