{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301174954/http://dankildee.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-dan-kildee-ontario-nuclear-waste-site-near-great-lakes", "Congressman Dan Kildee: Ontario Nuclear Waste Site near Great Lakes Potentially Threatens Both U.S. and Canada\u2019s Economy, Water Resources", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Dan Kildee", "K000380", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Dan Kildee: Ontario Nuclear Waste Site near Great Lakes Potentially Threatens Both U.S. and Canada\u2019s Economy, Water Resources\nKildee, Joined by Members of Michigan\u2019s Congressional Delegation, Pens Letter Urging Consideration of Other Sites as well as Environmental Assessment Study\nCongressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today expressed \u201csignificant concern\u201d over plans by a Canadian energy corporation to store nuclear waste less than a mile from Lake Huron. In a letter to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Congressman Kildee was joined by other members of the Michigan delegation imploring the Joint Review Panel to consider alternative locations for the site.\n\u201cMillions of people \u2013 both in the U.S. and Canada \u2013 depend on fresh water from the Great Lakes for drinking, fishing, and tourism. Every year, the Great Lakes pump billions of dollars into the economy and support thousands of good-paying jobs,\u201d the letter reads. \u201cLake Huron, which together with Lakes Superior, Erie, Michigan and Ontario constitute the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth, comprise 21 percent of the world\u2019s surface freshwater. If the Great Lakes were to be contaminated with nuclear waste, it would cause significant damage to this vital natural resource,\u201d the letter continues.\n\u201cOur state\u2019s livelihood depends on preserving the Great Lakes. Not only do they propel Michigan\u2019s economy through fishing and tourism, our beautiful lakes also provide sanctuary and serenity to millions of visitors from all over the world each year,\u201d Congressman Kildee said. \u201cLike all Michiganders, I have vivid memories of family vacations up north on the pristine shores of our state. I now have the great honor of representing Lake Huron and towns along the water in Congress, and I will always fight to preserve our beautiful freshwater lakes from harm.\u201d\nThe letter to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission comes as the panel is closing its public comment period on the proposed site. Congressman Kildee\u2019s letter is also signed by Rep. Gary Peters (MI-14), Rep. Sander Levin (MI-12) and Rep. John Dingell (MI-13).\nThe underground nuclear waste storage facility, proposed by Ontario Power Generation, would store approximately 52 million tons of radioactive waste from Ontario\u2019s 20 nuclear reactors. The plans include burrowing nuclear waste 2,200 feet underground near Kincardine, Ontario, a small town with just over 11,000 people.\nThe facility would be built in the Great Lakes basin and, in the event of an accident, could also threaten a large supply of the world\u2019s freshwater resources. Lake Huron, along with Lakes Superior, Erie, Michigan and Ontario, constitute the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth, comprising over a fifth of the world\u2019s freshwater resources.\nFull text of the letter is below.\n--\nOctober 30, 2013\n\u00a0\nJoint Review Panel Secretariat \u2013 DGR\nc/o Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission\nP.O. Box 1046, Station B\n280 Slater Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9\nDear Joint Review Panel:\nWe are writing to express significant concern about a proposal to store 52 million gallons of low and intermediate level nuclear waste near the U.S.-Canadian border and less than a mile away from Lake Huron.\nMillions of people \u2013 both in the U.S. and Canada \u2013 depend on fresh water from the Great Lakes for drinking, fishing, and tourism. Every year, the Great Lakes pump billions of dollars into the economy and support thousands of good-paying jobs. Lake Huron, which together with Lakes Superior, Erie, Michigan and Ontario constitute the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth, comprise 21 percent of the world\u2019s surface freshwater. If the Great Lakes were to be contaminated with nuclear waste, it would cause significant damage to this vital natural resource.\nThis nuclear storage facility is anticipated to remain radioactive for centuries; as a result, it will impact the people of both countries for perpetuity. For this reason, an environmental assessment focused on the location of this facility should be made with great caution and deliberation. Neither the U.S. nor Canada can afford the risk of polluting the Great Lakes with toxic nuclear waste.\nFinally, we ask that you continue to work with federal, state, provincial and local governments on both sides of the border as you evaluate this decision to help guarantee the protection of the Great Lakes. Although we recognize Canada\u2019s right to decide its own energy future, this storage facility could jeopardize water resources shared by both countries. Thus, we ask that you continue to explore all other locations for this site, including constructing it outside of the Great Lakes basin.\n10-30-13, Letter, Joint Review Panel.pdf", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140301174954/http://dankildee.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-dan-kildee-ontario-nuclear-waste-site-near-great-lakes"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.0075940992683172, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}