News, facts and information
Survey reveals highest-ever level of confidence in PHAI
January 31, 2012 – Public confidence in the Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) is at an all- time high, according to the 10th annual PHAI public- attitude survey conducted by IntelliPulse Marketing.
With the clean-up project officially moving into Phase 2, residents’ confidence in the PHAI Management Office’s ability to safely manage the waste for the long-term is up to 84 per cent – its highest level ever – up three per cent from last year, and up 19 per cent compared to the first public-attitude survey in 2002.
“As we move forward with Phase 2 of the project, it’s encouraging to know that the residents of Port Hope continue to increase their confidence in our ability to safely move the waste while minimizing community impact,” said Christine Fahey, PHAI project director. “The findings from the annual public-attitude survey are valuable in telling us what’s important to the community and how we’re doing, and we will continue to engage and listen throughout the second phase.”
While 87 per cent of residents identified the cleanup as an important topic, nearly three-quarters said they “never” or “not very often” think about living in a community dealing with low-level radioactive waste. In fact, satisfaction with life in Port Hope increased to 95 per cent, from 93 per cent in 2010 and overall, awareness of the Project has improved significantly – increasing to 94 per cent from 88 per cent last year.
For the news release, click here
For the Public Attitude Survey executive summary, click here
Phase 2 funding moves PHAI forward
January 13, 2012 – The Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) today received confirmation of funding from the Government of Canada, which will allow the clean-up project to move forward into Phase 2.
Photo: The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, was joined by local M.P Rick Norlock, and the mayors of Port Hope and Clarington on Friday, Jan. 13, to announce a federal commitment of $1.28 billion over 10 years to clean-up low-level radioactive waste in the Port Hope area.
The news release from the PHAI MO can be found here
The news release from Natural Resources Canada can be found here
The backgrounder can be found here
PVCI presents preliminary real-estate study findings
Murray Visser, president of Property Valuators and Consulting Inc. (PVCI), provides a briefing to media on the preliminary results of a comparative study of property values in Port Hope and Cobourg at the PHAI Management Office (MO) Tuesday, Dec 13. The PHAI MO monitors the socio-economic environment, including property values – through its Property Value Protection Program – as part of its efforts to minimize impact on the community throughout the clean-up process. The study is expected to be completed in early 2012 and its findings will be made public shortly thereafter.
Find out how to do business with the Government of Canada - attend our next OSME seminar in Port Hope on Jan. 10.
Cllick here for details.
AECL receives licence approval
for Port Granby Project
November 30, 2011 – The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) today approved Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s (AECL) licence application for the Port Granby Project – providing approval for the relocation and safe, long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste currently located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Southeast Clarington.
AECL and its operating agency, the Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO), presented its detailed plans at a licence hearing in Courtice, Ont., on Sept. 27. The licence provides approval for the PHAI MO to move the waste away from Lake Ontario to a new, engineered aboveground mound to be built north of the current site. The waste originated from Eldorado Limited – a former Crown Corporation – and was deposited at the site between 1955 and 1988.
“We are pleased with the CNSC’s decision,” said Christine Fahey, project director for the PHAI. “Together with federal funding approval, this licence will allow us to move forward in cleaning up the environment, while providing a solution for the community and future generations.”
With the licence decision, the Government of Canada – on behalf of AECL – can acquire the land for the new facility and assume ownership and operation of the current waste site from Cameco Corporation, its owner since 1988. Road improvements and construction of infrastructure needed for the cleanup can begin.
The PHAI MO will continue to work closely with the Municipality of Clarington and consult with local residents and other stakeholders to ensure the project’s impact on the community is minimized. Plans to manage and monitor dust, noise, traffic and other project effects will be shared with the community throughout the project.
More than 200 discuss clean-up plans
at Port Hope Project Open House
The Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) welcomed more than 200 residents, government officials and members of the media at its open house Nov. 24 – sharing plans for the cleanup of historic low-level radioactive waste in the community.
Staff and technical experts from the PHAI MO used large displays and demonstrations to explain the key elements of the Port Hope Project (PHP) – including sites and transportation routes, the proposed new long-term waste-management facility and water treatment plant, environmental monitoring, emergency preparedness and expected economic benefits for the Municipality of Port Hope.
“We are thrilled with the turnout at the open house,” said Christine Fahey, project director for the Port Hope Area Initiative. “It was a significant opportunity for us to interact with the public on a one-on-one basis, while explaining our plans to minimize impact on the community throughout the clean-up process.”
The open house is part of an ongoing outreach and communications campaign aimed at ensuring that community residents and other stakeholders are aware of the project’s progress, plans for environmental monitoring – including dust, noise, odour and traffic – and close cooperation with the municipality and community groups.
With the project expected to move into Phase 2 in early-to-mid 2012, successful two-way engagement with the community will be as important as ever.
Remembrance Day 2011
Christine Fahey, project director, lays a wreath at the Port Hope cenotaph during Remembrance Day ceremonies Nov. 11
Safety Milestone Achieved in Port Hope
The Port Hope Area Initiative Management Office (PHAI MO) has just marked a safety milestone – 170,000 hours worked during the recently completed 42-month transition phase without a Recordable Lost-Time Injury. Employees from AECL and Public Works & Government Services Canada – who are co-located in the PHAI MO – share in this achievement.
“I’m extremely proud of the safety performance of the organization, and the commitment made by PHAI MO management and staff to ensuring an ongoing awareness of hazards and prevention of injuries and incidents,” said Christine Fahey, PHAI project director. “As we escalate our field activities in the coming year, we are committed to working together to ensure workers return home safely at the end of each day.”
Ribbon-Cutting Marks Important Milestone
The PHAI reached an important milestone with the official opening of the Port Hope Project’s new dedicated access road on Oct. 17. Cutting the ribbon, from left to right, are: Tim Palmeter, program manager with Public Works and Government Services Canada; Christine Fahey, project director for the Port Hope Area Initiative; and Mayor Linda Thompson and Deputy Mayor Jeff Gilmer of the Municipality of Port Hope.
“The road was completed on time and within the $2 million budget,” said Christine Fahey. “I am especially pleased to report that there were no lost-time injuries on this job and all regulatory requirements were met.”
The access road is the result of co-operation of the PHAI Management Office, the local contractor – Behan Construction – and the Municipality of Port Hope. It will allow trucks moving the waste to avoid neighbourhoods to the south – minimizing disruption to businesses and residents.
“The access road is the first tangible sign for the community that work is underway and the project is moving forward,” said Mayor Thompson. “The municipality looks forward to continued coordination with the PHAI throughout the Port Hope Project.”
What is the Port Hope Area Initiative?
The Port Hope Area Initiative (PHAI) is a community-initiated environmental remediation project that began in 2001. Its goal is the cleanup and safe, local, long-term management of low-level radioactive waste in the Port Hope area and the Port Granby waste storage facilities. The waste is historic in nature because it resulted from radium and uranium refining done in Port Hope dating back to the 1930s. The Government of Canada has assumed responsibility for the cleanup and long-term safe management of this waste.
The PHAI will contribute to the long-term renewal and regeneration of Port Hope and the Port Granby waste site area. Potential project benefits include an improved natural environment and enhanced opportunities for social and economic growth.
The Initiative includes two separate projects:
The Port Hope Project
The Port Hope Project involves the cleanup of approximately 1.2 million cubic metres of historic low-level radioactive waste in various locations throughout the community, the construction of an engineered aboveground mound for its safe long-term management on the site of the current Welcome Waste Management Facility and long-term maintenance and monitoring.
The Port Granby Project
The Port Granby Project involves the relocation of approximately 450,000 cubic metres of historic low-level radioactive waste from an existing site in the Municipality of Clarington on the shoreline of Lake Ontario to a new engineered aboveground mound facility 700 metres north, away from the lake, where it will be safely managed and monitored for hundreds of years.
For a pdf copy of our Port Hope Project brochure click here:
What you should know
Overwhelming majority of Port Hope residents are confident in the cleanup... click here for details
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