Canada's 4 oldest reactors are located on Great Lakes shoreline

Canada's 4 oldest atomic reactors are on the Great Lakes shore, as are 4 of the 10 oldest U.S. reactors.As are 4 of the 10 oldest atomic reactors in the U.S. In a photo essay focused on the ten oldest operating atomic reactors in the United States, National Geographic reports on findings by Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors revealing weaknesses to seismic and fire risks post-Fukushima. Not mentioned is the fact that four of the ten oldest reactors -- Nine Mile Point Unit 1, NY; R.E. Ginna, NY; Point Beach Unit 1, WI; and Palisades, MI -- are located on the shoreline of the Great Lakes, 20% of the world's surface fresh water, drinking water supply for 40 million people downstream in the U.S., Canada, and numerous Native American First Nations. Four more of the ten oldest U.S. reactors -- Dresden Units 2 and 3, IL; Monticello, MN; and Quad Cities Unit 1, IL -- are located just outside, or not very far from, the Great Lakes watershed, in terms of the potential for airborne fallout from a catastrophic radioactivity release, as clearly shown by the widespread contamination downwind and downstream of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe. Not mentioned in the article is the fact that four of Canada's oldest reactors -- four units at Pickering A nuclear power plant just east of Toronto -- also are located on Lake Ontario's shore. Each of the 10 oldest U.S. reactors has already received a 20 year license extension rubberstamp from the NRC.

Are Canada's atomic reactors "Fukushima-proof"?

In a Toronto Globe and Mail article, Canada's nuclear power industry says "mais oui." But even a former chair of Canada's federal regulatory agency accuses the nuclear power establishment of defending against yesterday's accidents.

Sparks fly at Canadian parliamentary hearings about proposed radioactive waste shipment on Great Lakes

The Sierra Club of Canada and the Canadian Environmental Law Association recently took legal action against the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's Feb. 4th approval of Bruce Power's proposal to ship 16 radioactive steam generators on a single boat from Ontario to Sweden, via the Great Lakes, for so-called "recycling" (that is, contamination of the metal recycling stream with hazardous radioactivity).

Also, hearings were held this week before the Canadian federal House of Commons committee on natural resources -- pitting environmental and First Nations opponents against nuclear establishment proponents of the shipment and "recycling" plan.

All the sparks have generated substantial media coverage, including: "Ottawa to hear Bruce Power: shipment of nuclear waste on Lakes waits" in the Battle Creek Enquirer (Michigan); "Mohawks vow to stop nuclear shipments," Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC, including 2 minute long video news report); "Municipalities raise concerns over nuclear shipment," CTV; "Groups seek to block transport of nuclear generators," CTV; "Green groups urge feds to stop 'nuclear garbage' shipment," The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, including a video interview with Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility); "Watchdog has meltdown over 'fear-mongering' by antinuke groups," Toronto Star; "CNSC head slams anti-nuclear activists for fear mongering," Toronto Sun; "Low-level nuke waste shipments defended," UPI; "Nuclear Waste Shipment Plan Faces Stiff Opposition: Nuclear power CEO says shipment will be safe but groups cry danger," The Epoch Times; "Towns asked to oppose radioactive waste shipment in seaway," The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec); "Swimming with plutonium," the Montreal Mirror; "Nuclear shipment is expected to go ahead this spring despite opposition!" Seaway News (Cornwall, Canada).

CNSC president "melts down" over "fear-mongering" by anti-nuke groups

The Canadian Press has reported that Michael Binder, President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety (sic) Commission (CNSC), publicly suffered a "melt down" over "fear-mongering" by "professional" anti-nuclear groups regarding the shipment of 16 radioactive steam generators on the Great Lakes. Binder and the CNSC approved the shipment on Feb. 4th. Not mentioned by Binder or the press coverage is the fact that the vast majority of concerned citizens comprising the environmental coalition opposing the radioactive waste shipment on the Great Lakes are volunteers. Some of them have been volunteer anti-nuclear activists for decades on end.

Environmental lawsuit launched against radioactive steam generator shipment on Great Lakes

The Windsor Star reports that the Canadian Environmental Law Association and Sierra Club Canada have filed a lawsuit against Bruce Power's proposed radioactive steam generator shipment on the Great Lakes, and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's rubberstamp approval of it. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) must approve the shipment before it enters U.S. territorial waters on the Great Lakes. Beyond Nuclear and environmental allies are calling on PHMSA to undertake a full programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), complete with an adequate public comment period, including hearings along the targeted route.