Bruce Power has been given the go-ahead to transport 16 decommissioned steam generators from Owen Sound, through the Great Lakes and overseas to Sweden for recycling.
Late Friday, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission issued Bruce Power a transport licence that will be valid until February 3, 2012.
Media Relations Officer at Bruce Power, John Peevers, was surprised to hear the approval was given.
He couldn’t give a date for the shipments, saying a number of other approvals need to be received first.
Peevers says safety is the number one concern of the company and the transportation of the material won’t happen until the spring.
Environmentalists, First Nations and residents along the proposed route had expressed concerns about shipping the radioactive, school bus-sized generators by water.
The Nuclear Safety Commission says it’s satisfied that Bruce Power’s application meets Canadian and international regulations for the transport of nuclear substances.
The commission says the risk to the health and safety of the public and the environment is negligible.
Bruce Power says the generators will be welded shut before they’re shipped, but opponents fear an accident would contaminate the lakes with radiation.
The 16 decommissioned steam generators will be shipped to Sweden where material will be recycled.
John Peevers says the left over, “low level radioative material” will then be shipped back to Bruce Power for long term storage.
