Canada uranium update
Published by MAC on 2007-09-14
Canada uranium update
14th September 2007
Resistance to new uranium mining crosses Canada, as more than eighty organisations support the Alonquin First Nations and the Labrador Inuit government accuses a junior company of violating its permitting procedures.
Meanwhile, Cameco has been forced to close one of its major uranium facilities for an undetermined amount of time.
81 Organizations Sign Statement of Support for the Ardoch Algonquin Blockade of FVC Uranium Mining Site on Algonquin Territory in Ontario, Canada
Press Releae
14th September 2007
Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Greenpeace Canada, Mining Watch Canada, Voices Opposed to Environmental Racism and dozens of other organizations sent a statement of support for the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation’s blockade of sites on territory staked out by Frontenac Ventures Corporation for uranium mining. Aboriginal and jurisdictional title to the land is held by the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. The statement was sent to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl, Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty and Ontario Minister of Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsey.
The statement was signed by 81 organizations from 12 different countries and 107 individuals, including members of 11 First Nations or Native American Tribes. These included notables such as musician/activists Bonnie Raitt and Graham Nash, and Ojibwe activist Winona LaDuke.
Since June 28, 2007 members of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, other First Nations and their supporters have been conducting a brave nonviolent direct action by occupying a staging site for uranium exploration. 30,000 acres have been staked out for uranium exploration at Sharbot Lake in Algonquin territory.
The mining company filed a $77 million suit against the First Nations seeking a court order for their removal. In response an injunction was issued by the Ontario Supreme Court ordering the First Nations and their supporters to evacuate the property and making them subject to arrest for failing to obey the order.
The Ontario Provincial Police thus far have remained reluctant to exacerbate the situation, and have not enforced the order. There is a provincial election on October 10, 2007. Greenpeace Canada Executive Director Bruce Cox said, “Uranium mining and the McGuinty government’s $40 billion dollar nuclear power program need to be key issues… in the election.”
Co-chief Paula Sherman of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation said, “Our opposition to uranium exploration and mining is based on health concerns as well as our inherent responsibility to protect the land.” Said Dave Martin, energy coordinator of Greenpeace Canada, “Past uranium mining in Ontario left a deadly legacy of 200 million tons of toxic tailings in the Elliott Lake and Bancroft areas. Ontario uranium should be left in the ground. There are too many environmental, safety and economic reasons to oppose both uranium mining and nuclear power.”
“We are calling for Premier McGuinty to enact an immediate moratorium on uranium exploration and mining for Ontario, following the existing precedent in Nova Scotia,” said John Kittle, spokesperson for the Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium.
Joan Kuyek from Mining Watch Canada said "Ontario has to learn to respect the rights of Aboriginal people to protect their lands and resources; the Algonquins provide a model for us all."
For more info contact:
Co-Chief Joan Sherman, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation
omamikwe@bell.blackberry.net, 613-279-1327
http://www.aafna.ca/
Dave Martin, Energy Coordinator, Greenpeace Canada
dave.martin@yto.greenpeace.org, 416-597-8408 x3050
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/
Joan Kuyek, National Coordinator, Mining Watch Canada
joan@miningwatch.ca, 613-569-3439
http://www.miningwatch.ca
Uranium firm runs afoul of Labrador Inuit government
CBC News
12th September 2007
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2007/09/12/uranium-permits.html
The Inuit self-government in Labrador has clamped down on a mining company it says has violated exploration rules.
Nunatsiavut has decided to not approve future permits for a company that has been looking for uranium in northern Labrador, on grounds that it did not seek permission first.
Nunatsiavut officials would not identify the company, but CBC News has learned it is Silver Spruce Resources.
Terry Rice, who chairs the uranium committee in Makkovik, said a Silver Spruce Resources release earlier this year caught his attention.
The company reported that it was exploring in an area he didn't think they had permits for.
After Rice forwarded the information to the Nunatsiavut government, he was told his suspicions were correct.
"It came back they were exploring on land [for which] they didn't have approval," Rice said.
Silver Spruce Resources was not available for comment.
Before exploring on land covered under the Nunatsiavut agreement, companies must obtain permission from the government.
First Minister Tony Andersen said the company submitted work plans after it had already completed some exploration work.
As a response, the government said it will not issue more operating permits to the company. Andersen said the decision sends a strong message.
"If you don't comply with the standards that we have worked very hard to put in place, then there are consequences," Andersen said.
The Nunatsiavut agreement, reached in 2005 after almost three decades of negotiations, covers 72,520 square kilometres of northern Labrador. Of that, the Inuit directly own 15,800 square kilometres of land - two per cent of Labrador's land mass - and co-manage the rest.
The Inuit also have special rights along the coast to 44,030 square kilometres of sea.
Cameco Plant Closed Until At Least November
by Joyce Cassin
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=688870&auth=By+Joyce+Cassin
Since reporting the discovery of uranium and evidence of other production-associated chemicals in the soil and groundwater beneath its Port Hope uranium hexafluoride (UF6) plant in July, Cameco Corporation has now extended the facility's closure until at least the early part of November.
And it can't say how employees may be affected.
"We had to provide some kind of time table when we made the announcement on July 20, and that's why we said a minimum of two months (for shutdown)," said Cameco Communications Specialist Doug Prendergast. "We still don't know exactly how long it will take."
It's now known that UF6 production will be suspended for a period beyond the initial two months while Cameco continues its investigation and develops its plan. There is not enough information at this time to estimate when UF6 production will restart, but sufficient data to support an estimate is anticipated by early November.
While Cameco stated it will make every effort to find alternative assignments for employees affected by the UF6 shutdown, it may not be possible to avoid some layoffs at the Port Hope conversion facility.
"I want to make it perfectly clear that there's not enough information to say with any certainty what the future holds," said Mr. Prendergast. "We're going to continue to make every effort to provide alternative work (within the plant), but we don't know when or how many employees could be affected."
Cameco and independent experts have been investigating to determine the source of the chemicals, and test holes are being drilled around the area to assist with testing the soil and groundwater in order to determine the precise area affected.
According to a press release issued by Cameco, it still appears the contamination is largely confined to soil and groundwater under the UF6 plant based on a number of tests done on the eight monitoring wells surrounding the site. Information gathered so far also indicates the materials are in an area contained within the Cameco property and do not affect employees' or the public's health and safety.
Groundwater testing to date indicates the presence of uranium, potassium, fluorides and traces of arsenic in some of the soil. Golder Associates Ltd. (Golder) has been hired by Cameco to provide the lead on independent environmental management expertise and their work is being reviewed by other independent experts. Golder is taking ongoing sets of samples from wells and submitting them to an external lab for full analysis of metals, radium and major ions. This includes the monitoring wells located outside the UF6 plant, as well as new test wells that have been installed inside and outside the plant over the past several weeks. Golder will also advise Cameco on preferred options for long-term environmental management of the contamination and on recommended building and equipment upgrades to prevent future incidents. Cameco stated it expects to receive and begin evaluating additional information from Golder in the near future.
It's now known that UF6 production will be suspended for a period beyond the initial two months while Cameco continues its investigation and develops its plan. There is not enough information at this time to estimate when UF6 production will restart, but sufficient data to support an estimate is anticipated by early November.
While Cameco stated it will make every effort to find alternative assignments for employees affected by the UF6 shutdown, it may not be possible to avoid some layoffs at the Port Hope conversion facility.
"I want to make it perfectly clear that there's not enough information to say with any certainty what the future holds," said Mr. Prendergast. "We're going to continue to make every effort to provide alternative work (within the plant), but we don't know when or how many employees could be affected."
Cameco plans to meet scheduled deliveries for the remainder of the year based on existing inventory and production from the Springfield facility.
The company stated it is able to do this even if there is no Port Hope UF6 production for this period. Cameco has sufficient UF6 inventory on hand to meet deliveries until the end of the first quarter of 2008. This assumes customers do not accelerate deliveries and other UF6 production and purchases proceed as planned, stated the release.
Cameco will be going before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) this Thursday; Mr. Prendergast said.