Report to / Rapport au:
Comité des services communautaires et de
protection
18 January 2008 / le 18 janvier 2008
Coordonnatrice de comité
|
City-wide/ à l'échelle de la Ville |
Ref N°:
ACS2008-CCS-CPS-0004 |
SUBJECT: Moratorium on Uranium Mineral Prospecting,
Exploration and Mining in Eastern Ontario
OBJET: Moratoire sur la Prospection de GÎtes d’uranium,
l’exploration et l’exploitation minière dans l’est de l’ontario
That
the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council:
1. Petition the Province of Ontario and
Premier Dalton McGuinty to initiate an immediate moratorium on uranium mineral
prospecting, exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa River
watershed until such a time that all environmental and health issues related to
uranium mining and native land claims are resolved;
Que le Comité des services communautaires et de
protection recommande au Conseil :
1. de demander à la province de l’Ontario et au Premier ministre Dalton McGuinty d’instaurer un moratoire immédiat sur la prospection de gîtes d’uranium, l’exploration et l’exploitation minière dans l’Est de l’Ontario et le bassin hydrologique de la rivière des Outaouais jusqu’à ce que tous les problèmes environnementaux et médicaux liés à l’exploitation minière de l’uranium et les revendications territoriales soient résolus;
2. que
la Ville d’Ottawa demande à la province de l’Ontario d’entreprendre
sur-le-champ un examen public détaillé de la Loi sur les mines de 1990.
WHEREAS uranium exploration is already in progress in the
neighbouring communities of Eastern Ontario;
AND WHEREAS potential uranium mining and milling projects may pose
health, environmental and financial risks, caused by the introduction of
recognized toxins into the watershed, air and land, for residents of the City
of Ottawa;
AND WHEREAS the City of Ottawa, the nation's capital, is the home to
a growing population of approximately 877,300 citizens and 1,300 farming
operations and is the destination of choice of 7.4 million tourists annually;
AND WHEREAS the City of Ottawa is comprised of a landmass of 2,760
square kilometers (over 90% of it being rural), which supports a variety of
flora and fauna and has the benefit of hundreds of green spaces, parks,
recreational trails as well three picturesque rivers;
AND WHEREAS the Rideau Canal System (including parts of the Rideau
River) have been recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage site;
AND WHEREAS the neighbouring Municipalities and Townships of
Kingston, Perth, Carleton Place, Lanark Highlands, Lanark County, North
Frontenac, Central Frontenac, South Frontenac, Tay Valley and Beckwith have
passed motions calling on the Province of Ontario to place a moratorium on all
uranium exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario, make changes to the Ontario
Mining Act and to begin settlement plans for all related native land claims;
AND WHEREAS in Eastern Ontario, where there are significant number
of surface-rights only (SRO) properties, wherein the private landowner owns
only the surface of their properties;
AND WHEREAS under the Mining Act, 1990,
licensed prospectors have a statutory right to stake mining claims and conduct
assessment work on these properties, even if the surface rights are privately
held;
AND WHEREAS under section 78 of the Mining Act,
the holder of the mining claim needs only to inform the surface-rights owner
regarding future mining assessment activities once, just prior to the
commencement of the assessment work;
AND WHEREAS this activity proceeds without authorization from the
municipality, conservation authority or having to undergo an environmental
review;
AND WHEREAS concerned local citizen groups, have obtained the
signatures of over 1,000 Ottawa residents on a petition opposing uranium exploration
and mining in Eastern Ontario;
AND WHEREAS these concerned local citizen groups are asking City
Council to support and assist in protecting and preserving the City of Ottawa's
environment, health, local agricultural base, economy and well-being;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Community and Protective Services
Committee direct City Council to:
1. Petition
the Province of Ontario and Premier Dalton McGuinty to initiate an immediate
moratorium on uranium mineral prospecting, exploration and mining in Eastern
Ontario and the Ottawa River watershed until such a time that all environmental
and health issues related to uranium mining and native land claims are
resolved;
2. That City of Ottawa
petition the Province of Ontario to undertake an immediate comprehensive public
review of the Mining Act, 1990.
Under the Mining Act, 1990, licensed prospectors have a statutory right to stake mining claims and conduct assessment work on these properties, even if the surface rights are privately held. Section 78 of that Act states that the holder of the mining claim needs only to inform the surface-rights owner regarding future mining assessment activities once, just prior to the commencement of the assessment work. This activity proceeds without authorization from the municipality, conservation authority or having to undergo an environmental review.
Uranium exploration is in progress in the neighbouring communities of Eastern Ontario. Potential uranium mining and milling projects may pose health, environmental and financial risks, caused by the introduction of recognized toxins into the watershed, air and land. Many Ontario communities have passed motions calling on the province to place a moratorium on all uranium exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario, make changes to the Ontario Mining Act and to begin settlement plans for all related native land claims.
CONSULTATION
Concerned local citizen groups (Ecology Ottawa, Ottawa Health Coalition, Ottawa Coalition Against Mining Uranium (OCAMU) and the Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU) have obtained the signatures of over 1,000 residents on a petition opposing uranium exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario. They are asking City Council to support and assist in protecting and preserving the City of Ottawa's environment, health, local agricultural base, economy and well-being.
Community and Protective Services
Comments
Public Health
The issues of concern are adverse human health impacts, environmental
degradation and pollution and settlement of First Nation Land Claims. From maps of the exploration site north of
Sharbot Lake and in West Quebec, the Ottawa River watershed could be affected
by exploration activities. The site in
Ontario falls within the watershed of the Mississippi Valley Conservation
Authority, one of the City of Ottawa watersheds. The route of exposure to radiation by-products to humans is
through the aquifer (disturbing underground rock formations that could permit leaching
of gases into aquifers) and to a lesser extent, the release of radiation
by-products into the air. The
by-products include radon gas as well as several other decay products more
hazardous than radon.
These human health concerns require that uranium mining and exploration
be carefully regulated and only approved where a proper human health risk
assessment has been done. Ottawa Public
Health is supportive of this motion.
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
N/A
SUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 - Uranium Mining and Milling Fact Sheet
Document 2 - Petitions containing signatures (Held on
file)
Upon Council approval, the City Clerk will prepare the necessary letters to the Premier of Ontario and the provincial government.
Document
1
Uranium
Mining and Milling Fact Sheet
·
Source Water Contamination – Uranium mining and milling poses a serious risk to Ottawa’s most
significant watersheds, including the potential contamination of both the
Ottawa River (source of the City’s drinking water) and the Rideau Canal System.
·
Exploration – There are over 30 000+ acres of land West of the City of Ottawa that
have been claimed by active uranium mining exploration companies. There are
claims in the Lanark Highlands that are within 50km of the City’s Western
boundary. There are also hundreds of claims in Western Quebec between
Fort-Coulogne and Le Peche that could similarly affect the Ottawa area.
·
Airborne Contamination – Prevailing West winds have the potential to carry toxic uranium
by-products (e.g., radon gas and airborne radioactive elements)
· Local Food Source Contamination – Long-term viability of local farms located in the City’s rural areas could be compromised by virtue of their proximity to both uranium mining and milling facilities.
· Damage to Ottawa’s Tourism Reputation – Tourism is an important growth industry for the City of Ottawa, with over seven million visitors per year choosing Ottawa as their point of destination. Of these seven million visitors, approximately five percent (370 000) stay in local campgrounds, cottages and mobile trailer parks while visiting the capital region. Source water contamination of both the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal (recently designated a UNSESCO World Heritage Site) could seriously damage the City’s reputation as a prime tourist destination.
· Damage to Ottawa’s Healthy Living Reputation – Accessibility of local green spaces, outdoor recreation and nature is often cited as a desirable aspect of Ottawa life. Source water contamination, active mining projects and associated health risks could undermine one of Ottawa’s key identifying characteristics, and competitive advantages for employers.
· Toxicity of Uranium and it’s Offspring – Uranium and it’s by-products, including radon gas, radioactive polonium and lead are widely recognized by leading health authorities as toxins, which have been known to contribute to fatal diseases such as lung and bone cancer, and lead to birth defects. Health Canada, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization refer to uranium, radium and/or radon gas as carcinogenic toxins.
·
Long Term Environmental Damage – The Canadian Uranium Mining Industry’s legacy is less then
stellar, as mining and processing projects in Bancroft and Elliot Lake Ontario
has caused severe environmental contamination.
·
Municipalities and Townships requesting a Moratorium – In response to the numerous
mining claims affected Eastern Ontario Municipalities and Townships have passed
motions calling on the province to immediately place a moratorium on further
uranium exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario. This moratorium is to remain
in place until such a time that that all environmental and health issues
related to uranium mining and native land claims are resolved. Participating
Townships and Municipalities: Kingston, Perth, Carleton Place, Lanark Highlands,
Lanark County North, Frontenac, Central Frontenac, South Frontenac, Tay Valley,
Beckwith