Lake Ontario Waterkeeper's comments RE: Cameco corporation Proposal for the amendment of Permit to Take Water

The entire comment is available for download here.

Background

Cameco Corporation owns and operates a uranium conversation facility in Port Hope, Ontario. On July 13, 2007 contaminated soil and groundwater were discovered underneath the facility. The UF6 plant was subsequently shut down and remains closed to this date. On January 3, 2008, Cameco Corporation applied to the Ministry of the Environment for a Category 3 amendment to its Permit To Take Water in order to capture and treat contaminated groundwater on its property in Port Hope, Ontario. The EBR document # 010-2479 was posted on the Environmental Registry and is available for comment until February 2, 2008.

Cameco is asking to take up to 1,582,800 litres per day from up to 12 sources (wells, excavations and trenches). The quantity of water Cameco is asking to withdraw exceeds 50,000 litres per day, so it must be licenced by the Ministry of the Environment in Ontario. The application appears to meet this Standard. Cameco's request is a “Category 3â€, meaning that it is considered to have greater potential to cause adverse environmental impact or interference. Cameco is required to submit a scientific study and undergo a technical screening and evaluation by the Ministry of the Environment.

The quantity of water Cameco is asking to withdraw also exceeds 100,000 gallons per day (379,000 litres per day) and is not greater than 5 million gallons per day (19 million litres per day). This means that the taking must meet the “Exception Standard†set out in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.

For a full summary of Waterkeeper's recommendations, see the entire comment, available for download here.