PORT HOPE - A Port Hope councillor has raised red flags over the wisdom and safety of parking trucks carrying radioactive material in a very public, busy casino parking lot.
At the May 31 protection to persons and property committee meeting, Councillor John Morand, committee chairman, presented photographs he said were taken on May 15 at 5:15 p.m. at the Mohawk Raceway and Slots in Burlington which show two trucks carrying what could be up to 30,000 kilograms of uranium heexafluoride (UF6) produced at Cameco's Port Hope facility. Coun. Morand said the individual who took the pictures was very concerned about the gamma and neutron exposure of patrons parked close to the track in the public parking area. The committee has referred the information and pictures to the municipal peer review team for comment.

Cameco spokesman Doug Prendergast said the company will look into the issue to determine if further action is required. Mr. Prendergast said trucks that carry hazardous material such as UF6 are designed to be safe both during transport and when the public is around the vehicles. There are set limits to emissions allowed from theses vehicles.

"It's not uncommon to see trucks parked in a Tim Hortons or on the side of the highway," he added. "Without knowing the particulars (of the issue presented by Coun. Morand), I wouldn't want to comment."

Coun. Morand said he has also provided the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) with the pictures. In his correspondence to the CNSC, the councillor noted community groups in Port Hope who undertook a recent monitoring program discovered UF6 trucks in a Cameco parking lot were emitting neutron radiation at unacceptable levels.

"I do not understand why the CNSC allows highly radioactive trucks to park in public areas exposing the public to danger of additional unwanted and unwarranted radiation exposure," he said.

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