Think global Act local A viable Canadian

Think global Act local

A viable Canadian solution for the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel ? NWMO mandate Reverse Mining Securad mission Sustainability Building awareness Key success factors Securad Objectives Siting

Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) mandate for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel · Protect human health and the environment and make it as safe as possible from harm, now and in the future · Allow Canadians to accept responsibility as creators of spent nuclear fuel and put in place a long term management approach, including a plan that is flexible enough to adopt to changes in nuclear fuel management as new technology becomes available · Recognize that the nuclear industry does not have all the answers for spent fuel management today, and that Canadians need to invest in more research and expand global cooperation to develop other and possibly better ways to manage used nuclear fuel. Safe, secure, sustainable!

Securad is proposing. . . • . . . that this irradiated fuel be safely stored and monitored at a depth of approximately 300 metres in massive Archean rocks (Cambrian or Precambrian)… • out of reach of the food chain, safe from sea level variations, on an uninhabited site… • accessible by sea, either in Quebec’s Lower North Shore or in the Labrador-Newfoundland area. • This site will be managed like a highly automated “reverse mining” operation, with real-time monitoring and an opportunity to reuse or recycle the uranium in the future as new technologies permit. Safe, secure, sustainable!

A Safe, Secure, Sustainable Solution for the Monitored Retrievable Disposal (MRD) of civilian spent nuclear fuel. . . with minimised impact and optimal mitigation on natural and social environment Safe, secure, sustainable!

The Securad Mission • Provide Canadian utilities with a sound solution for the safe disposal of spent fuel, in a reasonable time frame. • Develop the project in agreement with the Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) jurisdiction and Canadian governmental priorities • Investigate the economical and political feasibility of possibly hosting Canadian-originated fuel currently used by foreign utilities Safe, secure, sustainable!

The Securad Objectives 1. Identify Canadian sites acceptable for storing irradiated Canadian uranium clusters from civilian nuclear electric power plants. 2. Develop awareness and participation among people living near the sites to be supportive of the issues raised. 3. Gather expertise in order to obtain the necessary permits in view of the environmental impact studies and the specific characterization of each site. 4. Recruit highly qualified professionals, use the most dependable technologies in carrying out the Project and be completely transparent in delivering such information to all interested parties. 5. Encourage all interested parties to take part in the development and completion of the Project. 6. Build, own and operate a highly secure, monitored storage site in conjunction with the authorities responsible for public security in Canada, together with the most highly renowned scientists and engineers in this field 7 Re-invest in new technologies for the reuse and recycling of spent fuel. Safe, secure, sustainable!

“Reverse mining” • The site will be as secure 10, 000 years from now as it is today • The site must be safe and closely monitored, and remain totally secure even if monitoring is interrupted (“Monitored Retrievable Disposal”) • Access to the galleries through a ramp, intercepted by a passive evacuation channel (by means of gravity) for storm or ground water, will eliminate the need for permanent active pumping of the storage galleries • The entrance to the galleries themselves, located more than 50 metres above sea level, will guarantee that they will remain watertight even if the oceans rise to maximum levels following a melting of the polar icecaps. Safe, secure, sustainable!

Sustainability • A safe facility for all future generations, over a period of time that far exceeds the life span of any prior civilization known to us. • Access to tunnels has to exceed the maximum seashore height if polar caps were to melt. A passive (gravity) evacuation system (without manned pumping) for intruding ground surface or ocean water will prevent water in the galleries. • Securad is considering building a gigantic Inukshook on the surface to let future generations know about some the presence of the facility below. • In a MRD facility the stored fuel is constantly monitored, but the site remains safe under interruption of monitoring for every reason (epidemics, wars, catastrophy. . . ). • Uranium can be recycled, after some time, should the price of fissible fuel reach a competitive level. Safe, secure, sustainable!

Key Success Factors • Site must be located in an extremely stable geological environment (ancient, stable non-seismic), with no water circulation at depths over 150 meters • Site must be accessible by navigable waterways and be suited to average-sized port installations • Site must be suited to the most stringent security measures over a broad perimeter • Site must be devoid of human habitation over an area of 100 square kilometres • Surrounding Native communities must be actively involved as supporters Safe, secure, sustainable!

Key Success Factors • Development plan must embrace environmental groups and seek supportive public opinion in the host Province • One alternative site must be chosen in addition to the proposed site • Project must recruit a high-level interdisciplinary team including public policy, communications, public relations, social science practitioners, engineers, specialists in aboriginal and government relations and specialists in complex environmental impact and project management • Transfer and conditioning of irradiated fuel must be conducted in compliance with the highest established international standards. Safe, secure, sustainable!

Key success factors • Extremely stable bedrock (archean, non-seismic environment) • Minimisation of water at storage depth (over 1000 feet deep) • Access by sea (no road or railroad transportation of spent fuel) • High security standards (possible implementation) • No inhabitants (100 square miles clearance around the site) • Involvement of local First Nation (ownership, siting and operation) • Alternative siting (in two different provinces) • Real-time monitoring of actual waste storage (full retrievability) • Safe disposal for over 10, 000 years • Potential public acceptance of suggested MRD sites Safe, secure, sustainable!

Siting the project • Securad identified a dozen potential sites in massive, stable, archean anorthosite or granite bedrock • Two “best” sites meeting “key success factors” have been identified aerial views available • Discussions with some major engineering companies for feasibility study • Possible agreement with the traditional people living in the area • Project proposal, or work agreements, with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization Safe, secure, sustainable!

Geological map of the siting area Massive archean anorthosite or granite

Development steps • Identify 2 geologically and socially acceptable sites DONE • Ensure acceptance of site by local people Advanced • Involve First Nations in project development Advanced • Bring strategic partners on board Advanced • Present a qualifying project to NWMO • Site characterization - Environmental Impact Study - Hearings • Building and operating the MRD Facility Safe, secure, sustainable!

Why Securad? • The Securad concept is a permanent solution for Canadian spent fuel and will keep the door open for future recycling, or alternative disposal • Canada must not leave to future generations the disposal of nuclear fuel actually spent by today’s generations; Securad is now ready to go forward • Securad has been working with a prominent First Nation for several years, paving the road and advancing decisively on the acceptance of its optimal MRD site Safe, secure, sustainable!

Conclusion • Securad is ready to provide the NWMO with a sound solution for the safe Monitored Retrievable Disposal of Canadian spent nuclear fuel in a reasonable time frame, consistent with Canada’s international commitment for sustainable development • Securad has a seven-year track record of strong and trusting relations with the First Nation closest to the two selected MRD areas • Securad looks forward to its cooperation with NWMO and welcomes its suggestions and initiatives in that respect Safe, secure, sustainable!

Recent situation • 22 nuclear power plants in Canada; 131 in USA; 441 worldwide • No safe disposal facility in operation today • Surface (interim) storage loosely protected; risks of terrorism, plane crashes or natural catastrophies (earthquakes, etc. ) • Significant step in Canada: Creation of the Nuclear Waste Management Organisation (Nov 2002) Safe, secure, sustainable!

The Securad Solution • A Canadian private corporation with a unique solution - Monitored Retrievable Disposal (MRD) - to manage the spent nuclear fuel surface inventory of all Canadian civilian nuclear reactors • Wide scientific acceptance over disposal of spent fuel in stable archean bedrock as the best and safest solution for this and future generations • A disposal facility can be built out of the available 0. 001 $ per kilowatt-hour produced in Canada. Substantial benefits can be further derived from future power plants in Canada, or from Canadian fuel supplied to foreign utilities • Exceptional sites identified in Quebec and Labrador, in close collaboration with Native authorities Safe, secure, sustainable!

Time frame • Feasibility studies & awareness 1 -2 years • Environmental study / public hearings: 1 year • Site characterization / construction: 2 years • Operation 40 years + Safe, secure, sustainable!