Uranium presents serious hazard

The Saskatchewan government seems determined to bring a new source of radioactive waste into our province. Canadian and Saskatchewan governments originally developed uranium mines to fuel atomic bombs. In postwar years, the federal government helped the uranium industry to produce nuclear fuel and nuclear reactors. Despite efforts to market uranium isotopes as “peaceful atoms,” nations such as the United States continue to use uranium mined here for military purposes.

The uranium industry continuously creates large quantities of one of the world’s most dangerous substances. Uranium products and wastes present serious, ongoing hazards for the natural environment and human health. Technical experts agree that radioactive and chemical toxins in mining waste cannot be removed. Because uranium’s radioactive decay takes thousands of years, costs to manage these wastes will continue for future generations.

In Saskatchewan, decommissioned mines were allowed to abandon alarming amounts of toxic waste in tailings ponds, waste rock, and metal pipes. Since 2008, the federal government has been transferring responsibility for this legacy of toxic waste to provincial control. Saskatchewan taxpayers are burdened with these waste-management costs, now and forever.

Nuclear reactors would add a new source of radioactive waste and waste-management costs.

Renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal, is safer and more cost-effective than nuclear reactors. We can see clearly. Our tax dollars must be spent more responsibly.

Gail Stevens, Saskatoon