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WHITESHELL RECEIVES A $10 MILLION FEDERAL BOOST
The Government of Canada will provide an additional $10 million to support the privatization AECL's Underground Research Laboratory and create an international demonstration and training facility for nuclear fuel waste management, announced David Iftody, Member of Parliament for Provencher, today on behalf of Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale and Ron J. Duhamel, Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification.
"A privatized Underground Research Laboratory will help to revitalize the economy of Eastern Manitoba and keep high-tech jobs and world-class scientific expertise in our region, " said Mr. Iftody.
In 1998, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) announced that it was closing Whiteshell Laboratories and that the nearby Underground Research Laboratory (URL) would be privatized. Since that time, the Economic Development Authority of Whiteshell (EDAW) and AECL have been working on the privatisation effort under a Memorandum of Understanding. This additional funding reflects the progress to date.
The first $5 million will be made available to AECL to help facilitate the privatization process now underway. The money, to be spent over two years, will be used to rebuild expertise, enhance international marketing efforts and to allow participation in international projects.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has identified waste management as one of its top priorities and Canada can play an important role by operating this international training facility. IAEA support and participation will be sought for this facility. No nuclear materials will be used or stored at the URL.
"The International Training and Demonstration Facility will be one of the first of its kind in the world", said the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy. "It will make a significant contribution through training, toward international efforts to improve the safe storage and disposal of nuclear fuel waste, place Canada in the forefront of activities in this area, and be a focal point for international cooperation."
"Privatizing the URL will ensure that Canada remains a leader in the nuclear industry, particularly in the development of nuclear fuel waste disposal technology," said Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale. "The establishment of the demonstration facility will showcase Canadian achievement in nuclear science and technology".
Ron J. Duhamel stated, "The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring a strong and dynamic economy, for Eastern Manitoba and for all of Canada. The Underground Research Laboratory will showcase Canada's expertise."
The second $5 million, managed by Western Economic Diversification, will be used to develop an international training and demonstration facility for nuclear fuel waste management and disposal at the URL. Funding for this project, which will span five years, is contingent upon the successful privatization of the URL.
"This announcement demonstrates real confidence in current initiatives at the URL, and equally supports the future prospects for significant opportunities that can only benefit the Whiteshell region," added Terry Cristall, Chairman of the Economic Development Authority of Whiteshell.
For additional information, contact:
Mark Gale
Communications Manager
Western Economic Diversification
(204) 983-3119
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Pat Breton
Press Secretary
Natural Resources Canada
(613) 996-2007
WD Toll-Free Number:1-888-338-WEST (9378)
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-877-303-3388
WD Website: www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
UNDERGROUND RESEARCH LABORATORY, RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF LAC DU BONNET, MANITOBA
The Underground Research Laboratory (URL) in the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet is a major research facility located in southeastern Manitoba, approximately 125 km from Winnipeg. The URL is used to study the physical and chemical effects of excavation in granite and to demonstrate the technology necessary for the safe disposal of nuclear fuel waste. No radioactive wastes are stored or used at the URL.
In 1978 the governments of Canada and Ontario launched the Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program. Under this program AECL was asked to develop the concept of disposing of nuclear fuel waste deep in the hard rock of the Canadian Shield and to develop and demonstrate the associated technologies. In 1998, the Report of the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management and Disposal Concept Environmental Assessment Panel concluded that the AECL concept for deep geological disposal was, on balance, technically sound, but that there was no broad public support at this time to adopt the concept as Canada's approach for managing nuclear fuel wastes.
In 1998, as part of AECL's decision to withdraw from the site and decommission it's nuclear facilities, the Waste Technology Business Unit (WTBU) was established with a view to privatization. The WTBU includes the Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program and the URL. The benefits of the successful privatization of the facility are the retention of Canadian expertise in Manitoba and the economic benefits that will be realized by the region from the marketing of this expertise in the international community.
The Underground Research Laboratory is a recognized world-class facility which has expertise related to the development of a possible solution for the long-term management of radioactive waste. The quality of the Canadian research and development program at this unique facility continues to attract international attention. Scientists from Sweden, France, Japan and the United States, who are developing their own geological disposal programs, have worked with Canadian scientists at the URL. The URL activities have also benefited the Canadian academic and industrial communities. Several universities and consulting companies have participated in experiments conducted at the URL.
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