Resident and low-level-radioactive waste activist Faye More would like radiological files on her property made available to the public.

In fact, she feels all status reports of that nature should not be kept hidden from those seeking information, including doctors, potential home buyers, and the former owners of any Port Hope property.

If asked, private property owners can provide a summary of their home's LLRW history, but any person looking for the actual government document with detailed lab reports and field notes on any property that is not theirs will be turned away by the Port Hope Area Initiative - a proponent of the federal government. If necessary a property owner can have supervised access to information on their property.

"The health issue is paramount," said Ms. More, who is currently trying to obtain information on a property she grew up in.

Ms. More believes the disclosure policy is in place because the initiative doesn't want to fork over compensation funds if a person's property value is reduced because of LLRW history or if their health has been compromised. Through its property value protection program, property owners who realize financial loss on the sale of their property, loss of rental income or mortgage renewal difficulties as a result of the cleanup initiative will be compensated. But properties that have in the past been contaminated are not covered by the program, said LLRW stakeholder relations and communications manager Bernard Gerestein.

He said a major LLRW cleanup took place in the 1970s and since then, there has been no indication that Port Hope's history has had a negative impact on property values.

If a home was currently contaminated, or radiation levels were found to be above normal on a particular property, he said the property owner would be contacted, and the property would be cleaned up. Still, previous owners would not be notified.

Ms. More feels the disclosure policy, or practice as Mr. Gerestein puts it, is in place for financial purposes - which is wrong.

"To slam files shut because it's going to create work is the wrong reason to have disclosure," she said.

Port Hope's Agreement Monitoring Group - representatives from the municipality and LLRWMO, met Thursday and Port Hope Mayor Rick Austin assured Ms. More earlier this week the the matter would be discussed.

At Tuesday's council meeting he said, "We don't think it's transparent enough ourselves."

Last month Ms. More said she attempted to gain access to her property files but was not permitted to view the records.

"Why not, I think is the question," she said, adding if a soil test was conducted on her property eight years ago, she would be sure to let any interested party know about it.

"I want a copy of my entire file," she said. "I want, if I choose, any individual to go and see that file, if I want that to happen."

Mr. Gerestein said all that information is contained in very thick files. He explained the radiological status summary indicates any surveys that have been conducted, whether or not the property was ever contaminated, and if it has been, the exact location is specified.

He said that information is not available to the public for the protection of property owners.

"We want to protect the interests of the home owners," he said. "We just want to be sure we're being fair to them."

Though a major cleanup took place in Port Hope 25 years ago, he said it's the government's intent to resurvey all properties in the municipality as part of the PHAI.

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