At the Special Council Meeting on October 2, representatives from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) gave a presentation on the proposed change to the arsenic cleanup criterion for the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI). This presentation covered an overview of the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment, along with details about the proposed change and its potential impacts.
At the meeting, a deputation was also presented to Council on behalf of Save Our Trees Port Hope, a community non-profit organization. Proposed changes to arsenic cleanup criterion have been a community conversation for some time.
Following the presentation, Council put forward a motion to support the request to change the cleanup criterion for arsenic from 18 parts per million (ppm) to 50 ppm, as outlined in CNL’s waste nuclear substance license. The motion was passed unanimously in a recorded vote, and staff have been directed to send a letter to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to notify them of Council’s support.
Council’s support for the cleanup criterion change for arsenic will be submitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the regulatory body responsible for making the final decision on the cleanup criterion for the Port Hope Area Initiative project.
It was previously communicated by the Municipality that following this presentation a staff report would be presented at the October 22 Committee of the Whole meeting, with a final decision expected at the November 5 Council meeting. However, after hearing the presentation from CNL, and receiving the presentation on behalf of Save Our Trees Port Hope, Council exercised its right to make a final decision at the meeting. No further action is required by Council or staff with respect to this matter, and the Municipality will await the decision of the CNSC following a public hearing held by the CNSC, which is expected to occur at a future date.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
