The first open house about Bruce Power’s steam generator plan attracted a small audience but they have some big concerns.
About 20 people attended the first open house in Owen Sound on Tuesday night.
They heard about the plan to ship 16 decommissioned steam generators from its plant on Lake Huron overland to Owen Sound and then by ship to Sweden for recycling.
There is a group of residents who attended last night’s open house that are demanding a public hearing.
Sharen Skelly says the proposal creates a big risk for the Great Lakes.
Skelly doesn’t think Bruce Power or the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is taking seriously the possibility of radiation spilling into the water.
She says “just because nothing has happened to this point doesn’t mean something will not happen.”
Skelly says the plan also sets a dangerous precedent for Owen Sound.
If the City approves Bruce Power’s plan — Skelly fears other company’s will want to traffic dangerous material through the City’s harbour.
Skelly notes this issue is bigger than many people think and many organizations are watching the outcome over the next few weeks.
And those groups include the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace and other environmentalists.
Skelly says if the Commission hosts a public hearing, it would give local residents and environmentalists a chance to voice their concerns.
She says the open houses are just information sharing meetings.
Skelly also feels Bruce Power should be able to find other ways to recycle its decommissioned steam generators rather than shipping them to Sweden on the Great Lakes.
A second open house is scheduled for today from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton.
A final open house is set for Thursday from 1 PM to 4 PM at the Bruce Power Visitor’s Centre.
