Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Bulletin – Final Report on 2024 Dialogue Sessions and Recommendations to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO)

NationTalk: SUMMARY:

From April to June 2024, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) held dialogue sessions on the transportation and storage of used nuclear fuel.
The sessions were hosted in Fredericton, Toronto, Thunder Bay, and Vancouver, with an additional virtual meeting held with the Advisory Committee on Climate Action and the Environment (ACE).
Feedback from these sessions informed eight key recommendations for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
Read the full report here: Final Report on 2024 Dialogue Sessions and Recommendations to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).

Dialogue Sessions:

Mandated by AFN Resolution 52/23, Securing Accountability of Nuclear Technology, Waste, Transport, and Storage, the AFN is committed to ensuring First Nations are informed and actively involved in decisions regarding the Deep Geological Repository (DGR) and nuclear waste transportation. These efforts aim to:

Raise awareness about the site selection process and its implications for First Nations.
Provide First Nations with the tools to make informed, self-determined decisions on the DGR and used nuclear fuel transportation.
Gather and reflect the concerns and priorities of First Nations on these critical issues.

From April to June 2024, the AFN held sessions in Fredericton, Toronto, Thunder Bay, and Vancouver, representing First Nations leadership, technicians, community members, environmental organizations, industry experts, and academia.

Key Concerns:

Deep Geological Repository (DGR):

Participants highlighted risks to groundwater, including the Great Lakes and surrounding watersheds, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual significance of water.
Concerns about the DGR’s resilience to natural disasters and climate change, such as earthquakes and extreme weather, were raised, along with questions about the adequacy of the current 70-year monitoring plan.
Participants underscored the need for life-cycle monitoring and voiced fears about irreversible damage to ecosystems and First Nations’ ways of life.

Transportation of Nuclear Waste:

Significant concerns were raised about safety standards, emergency response plans, and vulnerability of transportation routes through First Nations territories – which could affect more than 200 First Nation communities along the route.

Broader Impacts:

Many noted inequalities in the distribution of risks and benefits; southern Ontario would be the primary beneficiary of the nuclear energy produced, while northern regions would face the risks of nuclear waste transportation and storage.
Calls for exploring alternative energy solutions and addressing governance gaps in long-term waste management were prominent.

Recommendations:

In response to these concerns, the AFN has developed eight key recommendations to ensure transparency, accountability, and First Nations leadership in nuclear waste management:

Engage in meaningful consultation with all impacted First Nations before decisions are made on the DGR or transportation routes.
Develop First Nations-led emergency response plans and implement source water protection measures.
Include public health oversight in the DGR and transportation planning processes.
Publish a 70-year projection outlining long-term implications of the DGR and transportation plans.
Extend monitoring programs to clarify post-closure responsibilities for the DGR.
Support First Nations-led Impact Assessments to evaluate the economic, social, cultural, and environmental impacts of nuclear waste transportation and storage.
Participate in a national First Nations engagement strategy on nuclear energy, storage, and transportation.
Provide transparency by publishing alternatives for nuclear waste storage and reasons for ruling them out.

Background:

The NWMO, established under the 2002 Nuclear Fuel Waste Act, is tasked with finding a sustainable solution for Canada’s nuclear waste. This includes consulting with First Nations in accordance with Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

In 2007, the Government of Canada selected Adaptive Phase Management (APM) as the national plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. This plan involves containing and isolating used nuclear fuel within a Deep Geological Repository (DGR) located in an area with suitable geology.

Currently, two potential DGR sites are under consideration: