Re: Provincial Nuclear…

   Re: Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Master Plan Update – Registration #013-0560

  The Ontario government must develop a first class emergency response plan to protect people in the event of a major nuclear accident in our province.  The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has demonstrated a lack of independence and cannot be trusted to provide emergency plans for public safety.  In light of this, the oversight of the CNSC needs to be shifted from a Ministry that promotes nuclear energy to a Ministry that protects public health, safety and the environment.

  The on-going Fukushima disaster, and numerous other major nuclear disasters in recent history, is enough to warrant serious attention from the Ontario government to prepare effective emergency plans for all nuclear facilities – particularly those operating beyond their expiry date.

  Ontario must prepare for a worst-case scenario and develop plans using international best practices for nuclear emergency response.  Switzerland and Germany are two countries that have set a good example in developing new emergency plans, after learning lessons from the Fukushima disaster.

  Ontario’s Nuclear Emergency Response Plan should include:

  - protection of drinking water supplies, especially those near any of the 25 reactors on the Great Lakes

 - large-scale evacuation plans, as well as long-term care for those evacuated

 - how to evacuate those with special needs, the elderly, anyone in an institution (ie. schools, hospitals)

 - at least 20km evacuation zones around each nuclear station (Primary Zone)

 - radiation monitoring programs, KI consumption and evacuation/sheltering needs within 100km (Secondary Zone)

 - frequent reviews with appropriate updates to ensure plans meet or exceed international best practices

 - transparency and public participation in development and review of emergency plans.

[Original Comment ID: 210072]