Canada’s nuclear regulator has agreed to hold an “oral hearing” this June to listen to the concerns of Indigenous communities over the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) at Chalk River.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission issued a “procedural direction” last July allowing an extra seven months for consultations to take place with the Kebaowek First Nation (KFN) and Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA).
The commission announced in January that they had extended the deadline for submissions on those consultations from January 31 to May 1.
On Tuesday, the commission announced it will also grant the two communities’ request for an oral hearing to present their concerns.
The hearing will be held June 27 in the Ottawa area, with the exact location still to be determined.
In a letter to the CNSC in December, Chief Lance Haymond said an oral hearing would “ensure KFN’s meaningful participation in CNSC’s regulatory process.
“It would show that the CNSC understands and respect KFN’s culture”….
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