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MICHIGAN – Today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Fred Upton (MI-6), Paul Mitchell (MI-10), and Dan Kildee (MI-5) pressed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in opposition to the placement of a national repository for nuclear waste storage anywhere near the Great Lakes, which is currently being considered by the Canadian government.

“We stand in strong opposition to any decision by the Canadian government to select or consider a permanent national repository for nuclear waste storage anywhere near the Great Lakes,” wrote the lawmakers. “This is a treasured natural resource each of our countries share and we urge you to stand with us to protect these waters for future generations.”

In November, the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a bipartisan amendment introduced by Dingell and Upton expressing the sense of Congress that the governments of the United States and Canada should not allow permanent or long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel or other radioactive waste near the Great Lakes.

A copy of the letter can be found linked here or below:

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:

We write to you out of deep concern regarding reports that Canada is moving closer to selecting a permanent national repository for harmful nuclear waste along the shores of the Great Lakes.

Allowing a permanent nuclear waste storage facility anywhere near the Great Lakes basin, for any amount of time, is a risk we cannot afford to take. The recent reporting also has us greatly concerned that the highest levels of radioactive waste would ultimately be stored at the proposed site.

We know that there are other Members of Congress representing districts in the Great Lakes basin who are most concerned by this development and will certainly be joining with us in the days ahead. This is a grave concern. These waters have long united us—they should not divide us.

In November, the Energy and Commerce Committee favorably advanced H.R. 2699, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019, to the House for final consideration and it included an important bipartisan amendment that expresses the Sense of Congress that the governments of the United States and Canada should not allow permanent or long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel or other radioactive waste near the Great Lakes. This amendment was unanimously supported and adopted.

We stand in strong opposition to any decision by the Canadian government to select or consider a permanent national repository for nuclear waste storage anywhere near the Great Lakes. This is a treasured natural resource each of our countries share and we urge you to stand with us to protect these waters for future generations. Thank you for your consideration of this important request and we look forward to a timely response.

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