The Kebaowek First Nation has won its second court battle in a month against the planned nuclear waste facility at Chalk River. The project, approved by the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) in January, aimed to construct a near-surface disposal facility just one kilometre from the Ottawa River. The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) had ruled that the project posed no significant environmental risks and that Indigenous groups were adequately consulted.
However, in response to a judicial review filed by Kebaowek and advocacy groups, Federal Court Justice Russel Zinn ruled that the project could threaten endangered species, including Blanding’s Turtle and two bat species. The court found that CNL failed to assess alternative locations, violating environmental protection laws. As a result, the government must reconsider its decision, and the project cannot proceed for now.
Chief Lance Haymond of Kebaowek First Nation called the ruling a victory for both the community and at-risk wildlife. Legal counsel Nicholas Pope emphasized that two viable alternative sites were ignored, stating, “You can’t put the waste facility somewhere that’s worse for species at risk when other locations would work just as well.”
The CNSC has yet to respond to the ruling, but Kebaowek leaders say the decision validates their fight to protect their land and environment. Haymond stressed that their concerns had been ignored throughout the approval process, making these court victories critical in ensuring their voice is heard.
Source: Swifteradio.com.
