Chalk River: An Active Hazard

Radio Isotopes are said to affect the lives of 67,000 people around the world every day. The nuclear plant at Chalk River, Ontario provides the world with over two-thirds of the total radio isotopes used as medicine and for diagnostic assessment. During November 2007 the plant was closed by the CNSC (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission) because it had maintenance problems as well as safety problems. A month later the House of Commons overruled the CNSC stating that radio isotopes were crucial to the medical status of the world. This overruling is unjustified and Parliament never should have overruled the CNSC. The fact that Canadian Parliament went over the CNSC was wrong because it showed weakness in Canada’s policies regarding nuclear safety. The dominance that the Canadian Parliament showed over the CNSC shows a dangerous trend that ultimately harms the authority of the CNSC and shows lenience to other plants. Even before the bill was passed, Parliament relieved the CNSC of its legal counsel so that they could not dispute the legislation. This further showed that the power of common regulatory bodies in Canada has vastly diminished. In response to this, Stephen Harper issued a statement that he had re-opened the plant due to the fact that he had consulted officials and they had told him that the plant was in fine condition. It was later found out that the officials were part of the AECL. The AECL were owners for the plant for over 50 years and would like to see nothing but the re-opening of the plant. Instead of asking CNSC officials about the safety of the Chalk River reactors they decided to ask the owners of the reactors, furthermore they then opened the plant without further consultations. The Harper administration has also been quoted as saying that without the production at Chalk River several lives would be lost. This statement may be true but with a large nuclear reactor that has several safety problems more lives may be lost in the surrounding community if an accident were to occur. For example the Chalk River plants have the potential to do as much harm as the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, 1986. The damage of the radiation that was emitted during that accident had a 100 kilometre radius so imagine how many lives would be lost if the Chalk River reactor was subject to an unexpected phenomenon. The justification that the Harper administration used was minuscule relative to the damage that would exist in the future of Chalk River if regulations were commonly disregarded. The reactor at Chalk River is relied very heavily upon by the world for its consistent production of radio isotopes but it also creates over half of the world’s nuclear waste. This reactor is over 50 years old and its constant leaks and violations cause a harmed reputation to Canadian alternative energy as well as the government. Newer reactors should be built over a period of time so that Chalk River can begin slowing down production without risking thousands of lives. Chalk River is simply too old and should be shut down and replaced. The government’s action to support Chalk River was wrong and it threw off the balance of power between regulation and authority, it is a hazard to many civilians living near it and finally it was reopened on false circumstances.