Billion-year-old rock unearthed in Ontario in search for nuclear waste storage site
Martin Sykes holds some very special rocks in his hands inside a work trailer near Teeswater, Ont., the potential site of Canada’s first permanent underground storage facility for nuclear waste.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see these rocks coming out the ground, right here in South Bruce. Some of these rocks are 400 to 450 million years old. At the bottom of the borehole, over one billion years old,” said Sykes, the senior geoscientist with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
But the rocks that Sykes and the NWMO really care about are the Cobourg deposits. This is the rock formation they plan to build a 1,500-acre underground facility in — to house all of Canada’s most radioactive nuclear waste.
“The target formation, the Cobourg, which would be the formation used for the repository itself, that was found at 650 metres deep. So we were able to confirm where we expected to see it,” Sykes explained.
Just up Concession 8 in South Bruce, a second borehole site is underway and the NWMO says the goal is to be able to let the public know whether the rock north of Teeswater can support the massive underground storage facility, meant to contain 5.5 million used nuclear fuel bundles by late 2022 or early 2023.
That timing is important, because citizens opposing the underground plan want a community referendum on the project be put on the ballot for next October’s municipal election.
“Since this project will have a tremendous effect on our community, it is necessary for us to get all the information put forward to the public so that the public can decide on whether they want to host this in our community, or not,” said Municipality of South Bruce Mayor Robert Buckle.
According to Sykes, testing of the how the water moves within their potential project site will continue through next year, along with the borehole testing, which should wrap up in about eight months.
“We’re looking at spring next year for the end of borehole site to site activities,” he said.
That will no doubt coincide with a heightened debate in the community on how best to decide whether or not the Teeswater area in Bruce County wants to house Canada’s high-level nuclear waste.
The NWMO wants to decide some time in 2023 whether South Bruce or Ignace, in Northern Ontario, will host the $23-billion project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.