Introduction

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has proposed a Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) for radioactive wastes on the Chalk River Laboratories site (CRL). The CRL site is located in Renfrew County, ON, on the shore of the Ottawa River, approximately 200 km northwest of Ottawa and close to the community of Chalk River. The NSDF is proposed as an “engineered containment mound” where up to one million cubic metres of radioactive and mixed wastes would be placed over an operating period estimated to be at least 50 years. The intention is that the emplacement of the wastes in the NSDF would be permanent. The proposed project would also include a wastewater treatment plant and supporting infrastructure. 
 
Nuclear Waste Watch and the Old Fort William Cottagers' Association are participating in a review of the project, and are interested in understanding how local and regional residents regard the project. Over the summer and fall (2017) an independent consultant retained by the groups is undertaking a community investigation using an online survey, a series of interviews, and local focus groups. 
 
This online survey has been designed to gather the views and perceptions of residents in the region about the project, as proposed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. . The reviewers seek to hear from the broadest range of residents possible; all responses will be confidential with results aggregated.

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. The estimated time for completion is nine minutes.

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* 1. How aware are you of the proposal to construct a "Near Surface Disposal Facility" for radioactive wastes on the Chalk River Laboratory site?

  Very Somewhat Not at all Unsure
I am aware of the plans to create a near surface disposal facility for radioactive wastes.
I am aware of the risks associated with this kind of facility.
I am aware of the safety measures being proposed.

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* 2. From which information sources have you learned about the proposed "Near Surface Disposal Facility"? (Please select all that apply)

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* 3. Of the information sources you have relied on to learn about the project, please rate how reliable you consider the information from each source to be.

  Very  Somewhat Not at all Unsure
Newspaper reports
Radio coverage
Television coverage
Attending CNL open houses
Information on the CNL web site
Information on other government web sites
Non-government groups like Ottawa River Keeper
Local groups such as Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County
Cottagers or other residents groups
Talking to my friends and neighbours
Discussions in my work place
Other (your addition from above)

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* 4. Please evaluate the following statements about the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility as being true or false.

  True False Unsure
The disposal facility is only for wastes already at the Chalk River Laboratories property.
The disposal facility is planned to accept wastes from off-site commercial customers.
The disposal facility is less than one kilometre from the Ottawa River.
Radioactively contaminated leachate will be treated to remove some of the contaminants and then be released into a wetland.
CNL has estimated that tens of millions of becquerels of radioactive plutonium will be released from the disposal facility each year.
Nuclear materials proposed for disposal in the NSDF include plutonium, cesium and strontium.
The waste mound  would stand seven stories high and cover an area the size of 70 NHL hockey rinks.
The proponent - known as Canadian Nuclear Laboratories - is a Canadian company.
The property - known as the Chalk River Laboratories - is owned by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.
Only low level radioactive wastes will be placed in the facility.
The wastes will include high level nuclear fuel wastes.
The wastes will include PCBs, asbestos, mercury and lead.
The wastes will be mainly debris from building demolition.
The proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility will provide permanent isolation of wastes from the environment.

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* 5. Please indicate which of the following statements describe your views about the proposal to construct a "Near Surface Disposal Facility" on the Chalk River Laboratory site and its development and review process. ("Strongly disagree" means it does not at all reflect your views, ranging to "strongly agree" meaning it describes your views very well)

  Strongly disagree Disagree Neither agree nor disagree Agree Strongly agree
I support CNL's proposal and plan for a "Near Surface Disposal Facility" for radioactive wastes at Chalk River
I have confidence that Canadian Nuclear Laboratories will be a competent operator of the facility.
I have confidence that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will be a sound decision-maker with respect to this project.
I have confidence that the project will be well monitored and that monitoring results will be publicly available.
I believe the views of the potentially impacted communities have been adequately considered by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories in developing this proposal.
I believe that because the Chalk River Laboratory has generated radioactive wastes from its nuclear operations it is appropriate that these wastes be  disposed of at the Chalk River site.
I agree with receiving wastes at the Chalk River site from other properties currently managed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, such as at Rolphton, Ontario and Whiteshell, Manitoba.
I agree with operating the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility at the Chalk River site as a commercial operation, accepting radioactive wastes from a variety of sources, as long as the wastes meet the acceptance criteria to be developed by CNL.
I support nuclear power generation.

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* 6. Please indicate your priorities by ranking the objectives of timeliness, cost and safety for the proposed near surface disposal facility, with "1" indicating your highest priority and "3" indicating your lowest priority.

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* 7. Please indicate the level of risk you perceive there to be in relationship to the proposal to construct a "Near Surface Disposal Facility" on the Chalk River national laboratory property. ("High" indicating you consider there to be a high level of risk, "low" indicating you consider there to be a low level of risk)

  High Moderate Low Nil Unsure
The probability of this facility as proposed having a negative impact on public health and safety.
The probability of this facility as proposed having a negative impact on worker health and safety.
The probability of this facility as proposed having a negative impact on the environment.

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* 8. Please share some information about yourself.

  Yes No Unsure
I am a year-round  resident living in the immediate area of the Chalk River Laboratories (within 10 km)
I am a seasonal resident living in the immediate area of the Chalk River nuclear laboratory (within 10 km)
I am a year-round resident living in the general area of the Chalk River Laboratories (within 30 km)
I am a seasonal resident living in the general area of the Chalk River Laboratories (within 30 km)
I am an occasional visitor to the area.
I live downstream of the Chalk River Laboratories (e.g. Petawawa, Sheenboro, Pembroke, Chapeau, Arnprior, Bristol, Ottawa, Gatineau)
I live in Ontario
I live in Quebec
I live in a different province or state other than Ontario or Quebec.
I work in the nuclear industry.
I have previously worked in the nuclear industry.
I am involved in the agricultural sector in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County
I am involved in the tourism sector in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.
I am involved in the educational sector in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.
I belong to a local service organization in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.
I am part of an emergency response organization (e.g. firefighters) in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.
I am a health care provider in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.
I belong to a cottagers or residents association in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.
I am on a municipal council in Renfrew County or Pontiac Regional County.

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* 9. Please provide your email so that we can verify your response. We need to know that it is from an actual person and that everyone is responding only once. Responses without this verification cannot be used. Your information will not be used for any other purpose, except with your express permission. However, if you would like to receive the report summarizing the outcome of this survey and a series of interviews and focus group meetings on the same topic, please answer "Yes" (below) to indicate that you are providing permission to use your email for updates about the project.

Thank you for taking the time to respond to this survey. We appreciate your help. If you would like to learn more about this project visit the web sites of the Old Fort William Cottagers' Association or Nuclear Waste Watch. Thank you!

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