Algonquins of Ontario June 24, 2016 Caroline Ducros Director Environmental Assessment Division Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 280 Slater Street PO Box 1046 Station B Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9 BY EMAIL ONLY
[email protected] Dear Ms. Ducros, Subject: Algonquins of Ontario Preliminary Comments on Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ Proposal for a Near Surface Disposal Facility at Chalk River Laboratories (Our File CF 48-3) The Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated March 16, 2016 and June 1, 2016 regarding Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ (CNL) Proposal for the Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) at Chalk River Laboratories. The AOO understand that following the submission of a Project Description (Attachment 1) by CNL on April 1, 2016, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 is required. The CNSC commenced the EA process on May 5, 2016. The AOO appreciate the opportunity at this stage of the process to provide written comments on the Project Description for the NSDF at Chalk River Laboratories. Since 1772, when the first Algonquin Petition was submitted to the Crown, the Algonquins have been on a journey of rebuilding and rediscovery. Today, the AOO are comprised of ten Algonquin Communities. These include the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Antoine, Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini (Bancroft), Bonnechere, Greater Golden Lake, Mattawa/North Bay, Ottawa, Shabot Obaadjiwan (Sharbot Lake), Snimikobi (Ardoch) and Whitney and Area (Attachment 2). Based on a Protocol signed in 2004, these Communities are working together to provide a unified approach to reach a settlement of the Algonquin land claim.