Initial borehole drilling and core sample testing is underway in a rock formation, located south of Highway 17, about 35-kilometres west of Ignace, between Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.
Nuclear Waste Management Organization Spokesperson Pat Dolcetti calls it a milestone moment, noting this is the first time they have drilled a hole in any of the seven remaining communities interested in hosting an underground nuclear repository.
Dolcetti says they are obtaining samples to better understand the geology at or near the potential site. Work at the site is expected to continue for at least three months, but it will take about a year for the results to come back.
Dolcetti stresses they couldn’t reach this stage without the cooperation of Ignace and Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation, who have been heavily involved in the site selection process.
He says all partners looked at a number of factors before picking an appropriate site including geology, land use and traditional land use. Ignace is one of seven communities still in the running for the nuclear repository, with a final decision not expected to come down until 2023.
Dolcetti notes they are targeting 2045 for the start of operations.