Sarnia-Lambton's MP believes the risk related to the proposed shipment of spent nuclear fuel, possibly across the Blue Water Bridge, is reasonable.
A highway route from Illinois to Port Huron, for the transport of used fuel from Exelon Generation to an inspection facility in Chalk River, Ontario, is currently under review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
MP Marilyn Gladu says she's discussed concerns with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
"Previously we have had shipments of spent fuel rods going from Canada to the U.S., because they take them across the border and have processing facilities that can recover the energy from the spent fuel rods," says Gladu.
She says the commission has assured her there's minimal risk.
"They explained that there's an international standard. It's a triple-lined vessel and these fuel rods are inside there. I said, 'What if there's an accident and they get punctured?' and they said, 'That won't happen because there's not enough force.'"
Gladu says she was told that even in the unlikely event of an explosion, or if it fell into the St. Clair River, the exposure to people would be about the same as a dental X-ray.
She adds the company has not yet applied for a license to transport the material in Canada.
