Radioactive uranium mines should not be expanded
[ http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/DontExpandUraniumMines ]
Media Release, October 1, 2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Saskatoon) Today Sierra Club Canada is demanding an explanation from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Saskatchewan and federal officials of why Cameco is allowed to exceed the limits for the release of radioactive uranium and heavy metals, including mercury into the air and water.
Government and company records contain reports of releases of radioactive uranium over 1000% of the allowable limits, cadmium levels over 5000% and radium increases of 3000%. There are examples where no limits exist at all such as limits to uranium levels in groundwater and where there are standards, but no testing is done at all such as mercury releases to air.
"An entire ecosystem is being systematically polluted while all levels of government are looking the other way. They have failed to enforce even the most basic environmental regulation," John Bennett, Executive Director Sierra Club Canada.
The Sierra Club Canada demand is contained in its submission to the CNSC hearing on the relicensing of the Cameco Uranium mines and mills in Northern Saskatchewan. It calls upon the CNSC to postpone a decision until after an environmental assessment of the impact of the facilities on the local and arctic environments.
The mines are located just south of the Canadian Arctic Circle and are a known source in the transboundary transport of pollution to the arctic and beyond. "The Canadian government has committed to conduct environmental impact assessment and to reduce transboundary pollution such as mercury, cadmium and lead and yet has permitted uranium mining to proceed without regard to these commitments," says Christine Elwell international environmental lawyer and author of the report.
"As the new chair of the Arctic Council, Canada ought to be showing leadership, not providing uranium companies with an unfair subsidy to the nuclear power industry by the failure to regulate", says Ms. Elwell.
The 60 page submission exposes decades of official neglect that has allowed highly toxic materials to be released into the air and water. Fish have become inedible and it is highly likely area residents have developed related health problems that have transgenerational effects.
"We were looking at the pollution reports to support our assertion that an environmental impact assessment should be done before miming is expanded. What we have found is a record of environmental horror and strong grounds for cleaning up the damage first by establishing and enforcing protective standards "said Benny Cheng Science Advisor to the report.”it is unacceptable for Cameco to emit releases far above the standards, where they exist", continued Mr. Cheng.
The submission is available for public download HERE:
[ http://www.sierraclub.ca/sites/sierracl ... on_scc.pdf ]
"It's no wonder the company has attempted to silence local communities," said Mr. Bennett.
-30-
John Bennett, Executive Director
Sierra Club Canada
412-1 Nicholas Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7
613-291-6888
Executive.Director@sierraclub.ca
John on Twitter / Bennett Blog
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RELATED: Cameco, Sierra Club face off over uranium licences for Sask. mines (CTV News / Sept. 30, 2013):
[ http://regina.ctvnews.ca/cameco-sierra- ... -1.1477190 ]
The Canadian Press
Published Monday, September 30, 2013 2:38PM CST
An environmental group is raising pollution concerns about Cameco's uranium mining in northern Saskatchewan to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
But Cameco says the Sierra Club's submission creates a false impression of the environmental performance of the facilities.
The commission will hear from both sides as public hearings start Tuesday on Cameco's application to renew its mine and mill licences for its Key Lake, McArthur River and Rabbit Lake facilities.
John Bennett, executive director of Sierra Club Canada, says every pollutant coming out of the facilities is way over the allowable limit.
MORE:
[ http://regina.ctvnews.ca/cameco-sierra- ... -1.1477190 ]
= = = = = =
Federal government laying waste to the Canadian landscape
[ http://www.sierraclub.ca/en/support-win ... -landscape ]
Webmaster 2012-10-18 14:02 Sierra Club Canada
MEDIA RELEASE October 18, 2012 OTTAWA - The government of Canada continued its assault on environmental protection today with omnibus Bill C-45. “Today’s killing of the Navigable Waters Act, along with further gutting of what’s left of the...
SIERRA-CA: Radioactive uranium mines should not be expanded
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• Page 1 of 1
SIERRA-CA: Radioactive uranium mines should not be expanded
by Oscar » Tue Oct 01, 2013 9:11 am
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Cameco response to Sierra Club submission opposing relicensi
by Oscar » Tue Oct 01, 2013 12:23 pm
Read the Sierra Club's submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) at: 'Cameco's Uranium Mines; Trouble Both Far and Near'
[ http://www.sierraclub.ca/sites/sierracl ... on_scc.pdf ]
= = = = =
Cameco response to Sierra Club submission opposing renewal of licences for the Key Lake, McArthur River and Rabbit Lake operations
[ http://www.cameco.com/media/news_releases/2013/?id=752 ]
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, September 27, 2013
Sierra Club Canada’s submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission opposing relicensing of Cameco’s uranium mining operations in northern Saskatchewan creates an entirely false impression of the environmental performance of these facilities.
Protecting the health and safety of people and the environment is Cameco’s top priority. Our operations meet all provincial and federal regulations. Cameco employs more than 200 people in Saskatchewan who are exclusively focused on achieving continual improvement in our safety, health and environmental performance.
Comprehensive environmental assessment of each of our operations and several decades of intensive monitoring clearly demonstrate that these operations have a minimal impact on the environment. Issues that are identified are addressed in a systematic and responsible way as detailed in our licensing submissions.
Sierra Club’s allegations of “previously undisclosed large-scale contamination” and “massive” exceedance of regulatory limits are false. Their submission lacks context and demonstrates a limited understanding of environmental issues related to uranium mining in northern Saskatchewan and the performance of our operations and regulatory agencies.
Below you will find Cameco’s responses to the “highlights” included in the Sierra Club’s submission directly related to our operations. We would be pleased to provide further information on any of these subjects.
For more information, contact:
Rob Gereghty
Manager, Media Relations
(306) 956-6190
Sierra Club: “We show that Cameco’s operations already emit an extraordinary and increasing amount of air and water releases that are a major source and pathway for pollution both south and north. Theses pollutants are often not regulated at all.”
Cameco: Cameco’s operations are not a major source or pathway of pollution to the north or the south, and are thoroughly regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Air and water emissions from Cameco’s three mines and two mills in northern Saskatchewan are extraordinarily low and are declining due to renewal of production facilities and improved water treatment at all operations. Extensive monitoring programs are in place at each operation with results reported on a regular basis to provincial and federal regulators.
Sierra Club: “The only public radiation protection level provided in regulations is a generally described effective dose rate of 1 mSv per year, which standard is not an appropriate proxy for coherent and protective regulatory limits to environmental releases.”
Cameco: There is no measureable dose to the public from emissions from Cameco’s mining and milling operations. Radiation exposures to Cameco’s workers are carefully managed, intensively monitored and reported to the CNSC and individual workers. The exposure limits reflect the international scientific consensus on safe levels of ionizing radiation as determined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and enforced by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Sierra Club: “Even where there are standards, Cameco is not required to report airborne mercury emissions and waterborne mercury, uranium and cadmium release [sic] are merely identified as an “effluent characterization” not subject to specific limits. There is no limit for uranium in groundwater. Despite limits were [sic] they exist, Cameco is allowed to wildly exceed them without consequence.”
Cameco: Uranium mining is one of the most heavily regulated mining activities in the world. Cameco is in compliance with all regulatory limits established by provincial and federal regulators. The provincial Mineral Industry Environmental Protection Regulations contain limits for uranium in treated mine effluent. Releases at all of our operations are well below this regulatory limit.
We conduct extensive groundwater monitoring at all of our facilities, with information regularly reported to the regulatory agencies.
Emissions to air as well as ambient concentrations surrounding our operations are routinely monitored, and this information is regularly reported to the regulatory agencies. Monitoring results indicate that we do not influence regional air quality, and that the quality of air at our surface lease boundaries is the same as background.
At a minimum, our treated effluent is sampled for cadmium and mercury on a quarterly basis. Concentrations of mercury in treated water from our operations are very low and at or below laboratory detection limits. Cadmium in the treated water released is also low and, in fact, both parameters are better than Saskatchewan Surface Water Quality Objectives when released to the environment.
Mercury is not associated with any of the processes at our operations, and therefore is not considered a constituent of potential concern by Cameco and regulatory agencies. This is confirmed by the lack of mercury in our treated effluent. Further, the low levels of cadmium in our treated effluent do not pose an environmental risk.
MORE:
[ http://www.cameco.com/media/news_releases/2013/?id=752 ]
[ http://www.sierraclub.ca/sites/sierracl ... on_scc.pdf ]
= = = = =
Cameco response to Sierra Club submission opposing renewal of licences for the Key Lake, McArthur River and Rabbit Lake operations
[ http://www.cameco.com/media/news_releases/2013/?id=752 ]
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, September 27, 2013
Sierra Club Canada’s submission to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission opposing relicensing of Cameco’s uranium mining operations in northern Saskatchewan creates an entirely false impression of the environmental performance of these facilities.
Protecting the health and safety of people and the environment is Cameco’s top priority. Our operations meet all provincial and federal regulations. Cameco employs more than 200 people in Saskatchewan who are exclusively focused on achieving continual improvement in our safety, health and environmental performance.
Comprehensive environmental assessment of each of our operations and several decades of intensive monitoring clearly demonstrate that these operations have a minimal impact on the environment. Issues that are identified are addressed in a systematic and responsible way as detailed in our licensing submissions.
Sierra Club’s allegations of “previously undisclosed large-scale contamination” and “massive” exceedance of regulatory limits are false. Their submission lacks context and demonstrates a limited understanding of environmental issues related to uranium mining in northern Saskatchewan and the performance of our operations and regulatory agencies.
Below you will find Cameco’s responses to the “highlights” included in the Sierra Club’s submission directly related to our operations. We would be pleased to provide further information on any of these subjects.
For more information, contact:
Rob Gereghty
Manager, Media Relations
(306) 956-6190
Sierra Club: “We show that Cameco’s operations already emit an extraordinary and increasing amount of air and water releases that are a major source and pathway for pollution both south and north. Theses pollutants are often not regulated at all.”
Cameco: Cameco’s operations are not a major source or pathway of pollution to the north or the south, and are thoroughly regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. Air and water emissions from Cameco’s three mines and two mills in northern Saskatchewan are extraordinarily low and are declining due to renewal of production facilities and improved water treatment at all operations. Extensive monitoring programs are in place at each operation with results reported on a regular basis to provincial and federal regulators.
Sierra Club: “The only public radiation protection level provided in regulations is a generally described effective dose rate of 1 mSv per year, which standard is not an appropriate proxy for coherent and protective regulatory limits to environmental releases.”
Cameco: There is no measureable dose to the public from emissions from Cameco’s mining and milling operations. Radiation exposures to Cameco’s workers are carefully managed, intensively monitored and reported to the CNSC and individual workers. The exposure limits reflect the international scientific consensus on safe levels of ionizing radiation as determined by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and enforced by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
Sierra Club: “Even where there are standards, Cameco is not required to report airborne mercury emissions and waterborne mercury, uranium and cadmium release [sic] are merely identified as an “effluent characterization” not subject to specific limits. There is no limit for uranium in groundwater. Despite limits were [sic] they exist, Cameco is allowed to wildly exceed them without consequence.”
Cameco: Uranium mining is one of the most heavily regulated mining activities in the world. Cameco is in compliance with all regulatory limits established by provincial and federal regulators. The provincial Mineral Industry Environmental Protection Regulations contain limits for uranium in treated mine effluent. Releases at all of our operations are well below this regulatory limit.
We conduct extensive groundwater monitoring at all of our facilities, with information regularly reported to the regulatory agencies.
Emissions to air as well as ambient concentrations surrounding our operations are routinely monitored, and this information is regularly reported to the regulatory agencies. Monitoring results indicate that we do not influence regional air quality, and that the quality of air at our surface lease boundaries is the same as background.
At a minimum, our treated effluent is sampled for cadmium and mercury on a quarterly basis. Concentrations of mercury in treated water from our operations are very low and at or below laboratory detection limits. Cadmium in the treated water released is also low and, in fact, both parameters are better than Saskatchewan Surface Water Quality Objectives when released to the environment.
Mercury is not associated with any of the processes at our operations, and therefore is not considered a constituent of potential concern by Cameco and regulatory agencies. This is confirmed by the lack of mercury in our treated effluent. Further, the low levels of cadmium in our treated effluent do not pose an environmental risk.
MORE:
[ http://www.cameco.com/media/news_releases/2013/?id=752 ]
Last edited by Oscar on Thu Oct 03, 2013 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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WATCH: Nuclear safety dispute
by Oscar » Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:50 am
WATCH: Nuclear safety dispute
[ http://globalnews.ca/video/879333/nucle ... -dispute-2 ]
October 2 2013 8:47pm 01:43 min.
Wed, Oct 2 – Communities in northern Saskatchewan express concern over nuclear safety and the renewal of Cameco mining licenses.
Shallima Maharaj reports.
[ http://globalnews.ca/video/879333/nucle ... -dispute-2 ]
October 2 2013 8:47pm 01:43 min.
Wed, Oct 2 – Communities in northern Saskatchewan express concern over nuclear safety and the renewal of Cameco mining licenses.
Shallima Maharaj reports.
- Oscar
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Group wants to see testing on three northern Cameco mines
by Oscar » Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:50 am
Group wants to see testing on three northern Cameco mines
[ http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/group-wants ... -1.1480677 ]
CTV Saskatoon
Published Wednesday, October 2, 2013 2:16PM CST
An environmental group is standing up against Cameco’s application to renew its license for three northern mines.
The Sierra Club held a news conference in Saskatoon on Wednesday where they announced they want to see an environmental assessment done on the mines before the application is approved. According to the club, the levels of cadmium and uranium in one of Cameco’s tailing facilities exceed Saskatchewan’s standards.
“We would like to see an environmental impact assessment before any new licenses are issued and also a health impact study,” Sierra Club Canada’s executive director, John Bennett said.
MORE:
[ http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/group-wants ... -1.1480677 ]
[ http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/group-wants ... -1.1480677 ]
CTV Saskatoon
Published Wednesday, October 2, 2013 2:16PM CST
An environmental group is standing up against Cameco’s application to renew its license for three northern mines.
The Sierra Club held a news conference in Saskatoon on Wednesday where they announced they want to see an environmental assessment done on the mines before the application is approved. According to the club, the levels of cadmium and uranium in one of Cameco’s tailing facilities exceed Saskatchewan’s standards.
“We would like to see an environmental impact assessment before any new licenses are issued and also a health impact study,” Sierra Club Canada’s executive director, John Bennett said.
MORE:
[ http://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/group-wants ... -1.1480677 ]
- Oscar
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- Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm
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