Number
141763
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. KOVAC AND MURPHY
Title
Substitute resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee's opposition to Ontario Power Generation's proposed location of a deep geological nuclear waste repository at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station or any nuclear waste repository within the Great Lakes Basin.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee's opposition to Ontario Power Generation's proposed location of a deep geological nuclear waste repository at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station or any nuclear waste repository within the Great Lakes Basin.
Body
Whereas, Ontario Power Generation is proposing to construct an underground long-term burial facility for all of Ontario's low- and intermediate-level radioactive nuclear waste at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, some of which is highly radioactive and will remain toxic for over 100,000 years; and
Whereas, The proposed site is located at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, less than one mile from the eastern shore of Lake Huron; and
Whereas, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are interconnected and considered a single lake from a hydrological perspective because their waters move in either direction; and
Whereas, The creation of a permanent nuclear waste storage facility so close to one of the Great Lakes is a matter of great concern to the region's states and provinces; and
Whereas, Millions of United States and Canadian citizens rely on the lakes as a source of drinking water, tourism, recreation, and as a key industrial asset; and
Whereas, A leak of radioactive waste would have a catastrophic effect on the ecological balance of the Great Lakes and could affect Lake Michigan's waters, the source of drinking water for Milwaukee residents; and
Whereas, Under the 2012 Protocol Amending the Agreement Between Canada and the United States of America on Great Lakes Water Quality, the governments of Canada and the United States acknowledge the importance of anticipating, preventing and responding to threats to the waters of the Great Lakes; and
Whereas, In September 2014, resolutions (HR 716 and SR 565) were introduced in the
U.S. House of Representatives and Senate which state that:
1. The Canadian Government should not allow a permanent nuclear waste repository to be built within the Great Lakes Basin.
2. The President and Secretary of State should take appropriate action to work with the Canadian Government to prevent a permanent nuclear waste repository from being built within the Great Lakes Basin.
3. The President and the Secretary of State should work together with their Canadian Government counterparts on a safe and responsible solution for the long-term storage of nuclear waste.
; and
Whereas, The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee have an obligation to protect the public health, safety and welfare of residents; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, the Common Council expresses its opposition to Ontario Power Generation locating a deep geological nuclear waste repository at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station or any nuclear waste repository within the Great Lakes Basin; and, be it
Further Resolved; That the City of Milwaukee urges the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario to reject Ontario Power Generation's proposal and seek alternatives to burying radioactive nuclear waste in the Great Lakes Basin; and, be it
Further Resolved, That copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to the:
1. President of the United States.
2. Prime Minister of Canada.
3. United States Secretary of State.
4. Members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.
5. Canada's Federal Minister of the Environment.
6. Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
7. Premier of Ontario.
8. Joint Review Panel Deep Geological Repository for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste, Case Reference Number 17520, Panel Co-Manager, Ms. Debra Myles.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB157309-2
Amy E. Hefter
3/16/2015