It will be next fall at the earliest before the Federal Court of Canada hears its third case against the Near Surface Disposal Facility at Chalk River.
The Kebaowek First Nation, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area, the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, and Sierra Club Canada Foundation recently filed an application for a judicial review of the decision by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) to issue a permit for the project under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).
The permit allows Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to “carry out activities associated with the construction” of the NSDF even though it “may result in the harm, harassment or killing individuals” of three protected species – Blanding’s turtles, the Northern Long-Eared Bat, and the Little Brown Bat.
Kebaowek Chief Lance Haymond said in a statement that “the decision to move forward with the construction of the NSDF poses a direct threat to the biodiversity and ecological integrity of our traditional territory.”
“We have a sacred responsibility to protect our lands and waters for future generations and this judicial review is a necessary step in upholding our inherent rights as Indigenous peoples.”
Under a court order issued last week, however, it may be as late as November 10 before a date for the appeal is even set…
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