From: Stephanie Autut [sautut@nirb.ca]
Sent: February 3, 2009 3:19 PM
To: 'Leslie Payette'; 'Jeff Rusk'
Subject: FW: full scale review for proposed uranium mine

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Red

Here you go…for public comment submission folder

 

From: mary lou harley [mailto:mlharley@ns.sympatico.ca] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 3:14 PM
To: Stephanie Autut
Subject: Re: full scale review for proposed uranium mine

 

Thank you for your response.  My comments refer to the proposal by mining company Areva Resources Canada Inc. to develop an open-pit and underground mining operation at its Kiggavik site, about 80 kilometres west of Baker Lake.  I didn't realize that NIRB had any other uranium proposal under consideration for environmental review.  I apologize for any inconvenience caused by not specifying the project in my first e-mail.

Mary Lou Harley

  ----- Original Message ----- 

  From: Stephanie Autut 

  To: 'mary lou harley' 

  Cc: 'Jeff Rusk' ; 'Leslie Payette' 

  Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 5:14 PM

  Subject: RE: full scale review for proposed uranium mine

   

  Thank you for your email.  Please identify which project you are referring to so that we may incorporate your comments accordingly.  Thank you.

   

  Stephanie Autut

  Executive Director, NIRB

   

   

  From: mary lou harley [mailto:mlharley@ns.sympatico.ca] 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 1:50 PM
  To: sautut@nirb.ca
  Subject: full scale review for proposed uranium mine

   

  Dear Stephanie Autut:

  If the proposed uranium mine is to be given further consideration and not stopped at this stage, I urge you to call for a full scale environmental review.  

   

  I do not live in your area so you may feel I have no voice in this matter.  I understand that some feel that way, but uranium mining is inseparably tied to nuclear power and I live on a Bay with a nuclear power plant across the water.  People in my region have to live with releases of radioactive and chemically toxic wastes as regulations allow, and accidental releases, and the generation of stored radioactive waste, including extremely toxic nuclear fuel waste that changes over time but remain radioactive and chemically toxic forever.  Recent studies in Germany have proved what other studies have indicated before, that living in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant increases the incidence of cancer, particularly leukemia in children.

   

  If the people in your region think that uranium mining will benefit those using nuclear power, my opinion is that the best help for those having to live with nuclear power would be to stop the mining of uranium and phase-out nuclear power.

   

  If the people in your region think that uranium mining will help with the global warming problem by fuelling nuclear power, I ask you to consult widely with independent research groups about the costs, the inability of nuclear power to add to energy production within the next 10 years, the toxic legacy of nuclear fuel production, and the renewable energy options that are less expensive, can start producing power more quickly and dependably, can add to communities self-sufficiency, and need the funding that wood be misdirected to nuclear power.

   

  If the people of your region think that there will be no military applications of the uranium, be aware that exported uranium used in fuel enrichment has subsequently been used in the military applications of depleted uranium.

   

  I understand that jobs can be a driving force in decision making.  I ask that you very careful consider whether short-term monetary gain mainly to the mining company for the export of a radioactive, chemically toxic substance, the use of which is generating nuclear fuel waste and military applications which spread radioactive contamination worldwide, is worth your region, its air, soils, waters and all that depend on it for life, being left with a toxic mining legacy forever.

   

  Respectfully,

  Mary Lou Harley