Large protest on land and water planned to oppose burying of radioactive waste at Chalk River

An organized protest will be held later this month in opposition to the Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) project proposed for Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in Chalk River. Several organizations including the Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County are gathering on Saturday, July 27th from 10:00am to 3:00pm for the peaceful protest, to be followed by a large gathering of boats that will be making the trip up the river to Chalk River to express concerns about the plan for a disposal site for radioactive waste. One of the protest organizers, Johanna Echlin, says they’re recruiting people to join them.

 

The day starts with a morning rally at Hotel Pontiac, followed by a protest at the Old Fort William Dock and the launching of boats for the flotilla between 12:00 and 12:30pm. Following roughly a half hour ride, the boats will anchor in front of the Chalk River facility with lots of colourful signs and banners. Echlin says the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility would be about a kilometre away from the shoreline of the Ottawa River, which is the source of drinking water for millions of people. She fears this waste will leak into the river and remain hazardous and radioactive for 100,000 years. For its part, CNL has always maintained the NSDF will be safe from leaks.