Cambridge’s Aecon Nuclear applies to process nuclear waste

Aecon Nuclear's plant based in Cambridge has filed an application to process nuclear waste at its facility.

The company tells 570 NEWS in a statement, it has applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to, “manage tools and components that have a low-level of surface contamination.”

Nicholas Ermeta, Ward 8 Councillor, City of Cambridge says he will do everything in his power to stop this from happening.

“I've heard from a lot of residents in Cambridge that are basically saying, 'we do not want this in our community'. Even if the risk of anything happening, anything serious happening, as far as spills or anything, even if the risk is low, people are saying they don't want to take that risk at all.”

In a statement, Aecon confirms to 570 NEWS, they are speaking with government representatives Monday and later this week.

The company goes on to say, “The ability to perform this critical work will provide local economic development opportunities to support the safe, reliable supply of affordable clean energy to Ontarians.”

Aecon also clarifies, “The CNSC regulates the identification of low-level nuclear waste. This is not subjective and such waste does not shift levels.”

Also mentioned in the statement, Aecon notes, the type of processing under the application does not create any risk of a potential liquid spill.

Aecon also says, there would be no long-term storage of low-level nuclear waste in Cambridge.