FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:  August 25, 2015

CONTACT: 
Matthew Felan
(804) 347-6840
[email protected]

Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Opposes Canadian Nuclear Waste Proposal

The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance announced today that it formally opposes plans by Ontario Power Generation to bury radioactive nuclear waste on the shores of Lake Huron. Last week, Congressman Dan Kildee announced a community initiative to protect the Great Lakes and encourage Michigan residents to get involved to stop a Canadian plan to bury nuclear waste less than a mile from Lake Huron. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance has joined this initiative in an effort to preserve the Great Lakes and more specifically the Saginaw Bay Watershed.

Canada has opened a 90-day comment period seeking comments from both U.S. and Canadian citizens on the proposed plan. Today, the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance and its Board of Directors sent a formal letter to the Canadian Minister of the Environment and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency in opposition to the proposed plan.

“The Saginaw Bay Watershed is an extraordinarily important asset to the entire Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance President & CEO Matthew Felan. “The future vitality of the region’s economy and our quality of life is in jeopardy from this irresponsible proposal.” The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance urges residents, businesses, organizations, and elected officials in the region to immediately submit their comments in opposition to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

“We simply cannot put the Saginaw Bay Watershed at risk from any radioactive nuclear waste,” said Felan. “The Great Lakes Bay Region benefits immeasurably from shipping, transportation, tourism, boating, beaches, clean and accessible fresh water. The list is endless.”

To submit their comments, Great Lakes Bay Region residents must write to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency by September 1, 2015. Comments can be submitted by mail or email. Anyone who would like to submit comments by mail should send them to: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency; 22nd Floor, 160 Elgin Street, Ottawa ON K1A 0H3. Anyone who would like to submit comments by email should send them to: [email protected].

Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
The mission of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is to encourage, support and celebrate regional collaboration and initiatives that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is comprised of 48 Board Members who represent Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw counties. www.greatlakesbay.com