The Plan for Used Nuclear Fuel

About the Project

In Ontario, nuclear power is used to meet about half of its electricity demand. Currently, used nuclear fuel is safely stored in above-ground facilities. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is proposing to secure the waste for the long-term in hard rock more than 600-metres underground. There is strong international, scientific consensus that a deep geological repository (DGR) is the safest way to manage used nuclear fuel.

In 2012, the Municipality of South Bruce voluntarily entered the NWMO site selection process to explore the possibility of hosting the Project, which will manage Canada’s used nuclear fuel in a DGR. It is one of two remaining areas participating in the process. The Project will also include Surface Facilities and a Centre of Expertise near or at the site. These facilities have the potential to bring other businesses to the region, including those in the service, manufacturing, and scientific research sectors. Related jobs in construction and infrastructure are also anticipated. 

The Project will only move forward if it is safe for people and the environment, the community demonstrates willingness to host it, and it will provide meaningful benefits to the community.

The Municipality developed 36 Guiding Principles that will help to determine if the Project meets these goals.  There are dozens of studies complete or underway that address many of the principles, some being led by the Municipality and some by the NWMO. Results will be reported during 2022 and 2023. Learn more about the studies.

For an overview of the South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Project, read our updated backgrounder. 

If you are interested in learning more about the Project, schedule a Let's Talk DGR session.

How we are organized

• The Community Liaison Committee (CLC) was formed in 2013 to help educate, engage, and listen to the community as we learn about the Project. It is comprised of community members (including students), members of Council, and the Mayor as an ex-officio member. Visit the CLC Meetings page for additional information about committee meetings.

• The South Bruce Nuclear Exploration Project Team includes the Municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer, Project Manager, Community Engagement Manager, Communications/Public Relations Officer, Community Engagement Officer, CLC Project Coordinator, as well as support from other South Bruce staff. They report their work at CLC meetings, provide Project updates to Council, communicate and engage with the community, and oversee independent, third-party reviews for the Project.

• Visit Studies and Reports to learn about past and present community work.

Community participation is key to an informed decision

Community engagement and consultation on the Project has been ongoing. In 2021, an independent consultant gathered public feedback on how the community wanted to measure its willingness to be a host, and what it needed to know to make that decision.  Based on this input, Council voted in December that willingness should be decided by public referendum. Learn more about this Council decision.

Prior to this, community input helped develop 36 Guiding Principles that sum up the community’s expectations for the Project and guide our engagement with the NWMO.

The community can also participate in various studies, projects, and activities that require input on Switchboard, South Bruce’s community engagement tool.

We encourage you to learn about and explore the Project with us, as we look at what it could mean for our community, and if it is a good fit! Join the email list below to stay up to date:

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