By : David Mroue and Renee Bialke

To Repository or Not to Repository?

That is the question.

Water resources are both critical to and greatly impacted by humans.

Students not only researched about water scarcity and how land use decisions affect a water system’s quality and quantity but they also became aware of and participated in political processes (public hearings, petitions, resolutions, and letter writing campaigns).

Working in pairs students researched the plans that Ontario Power Generation (O.P.G.), a nuclear power company in Kincardine, Ontario, had for dispossessing of low and intermediate nuclear waste. While researching students had to determine if O.P.G.’s plans to construct an onsite Deep Geological Repository (D.G.R.) was an environmentally sound decision.

To do this teams viewed online public hearings, listened to radio broadcasts, reviewed resolutions proposed by local and regional communities, visited online informational sites from the O.P.G. and watched a demonstration of limestone eroding with a weak acid.

Upon completion of their research students wrote letters to our state’s local representative, Ms. Sarah Roberts, sharing with her their position on the construction of the D.G.R.

Project Summary

E4.1A Compare and contrast surface water systems (lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands) and groundwater in regard to their relative sizes as Earth’s freshwater reservoirs and the dynamics of water movement (inputs and outputs, residence times, sustainability).

E4.1C Explain how water quality in both groundwater and surface systems is impacted by land use decisions.

I

Significant Content

Students were engaged thinkers and ethical citizens as they self-directed their research to become environmentally aware of the fragility of our water systems. They learned about their social responsibility as a citizen to critically think about issues that impact us and to speak out via public hearings, petitions, and letter writing to representatives in our government.

21st Century Competencies

Driving Question

A controversy has grown over the past year over a proposal to build a Deep Geological Repository 1 km off the coast of Lake Huron which will hold low and intermediate level nuclear waste produced at an Ontario Nuclear Power Plant. This waste must sit over 500 meters underground for 100,000 years untouched before it is environmentally safe.

Need to Know

Local communities have written resolutions opposing the O.P.G.’s Nuclear Waste Repository.

Dear Ms. Roberts

Hi my name is Kayla Dickerson and i am a student at South Lake Middle School. I am writing you this letter because in my science class we are studying the OPG also known as the (Ontario Power Generation) . I strongly disagree with the plan that OPG has.

I believe we should be concerned about this nuclear waste dump because it is so close to our nation's main water source .That is a great risk to take for nuclear waste that if spilled can contaminate our water sources . Lake Erie connects to all of our great lakes if the nuclear waste leaks not only will it affect our water but that area will be radioactive for 100,000 years . If the water becomes contaminated and people drink unknowingly it could kill millions. Is nuclear waste worth putting millions at risk ?

Is the value of human life and necessities underappreciated that you are willing to risk millions for a nuclear waste dump ? Did you have a back up plan as to if the nuclear waste somehow leaked ? Did you have a containment plan?Did you get residents of that particular areas opinion on such an important matter ? I think these are all question that need to be asked before such an illogical decision is made .

Does this corporation that wants to build this nuclear dumping site live in the area ? Do they even care how much is at risk ? Or how many lives. Or are they just focused on greed . So they can live their lavish lives and not have to worry about their water. But of course they will go to any extent to get money, even if the cost is human life .

I think i brought up some very well illustrated points that should be evaluated before such an irrational decision is made. I hope my point and question will be evaluated and answered.

Sincerely, Kayla Dickerson

Letters to Rep. Sarah Roberts

Dear Ms.Roberts,

It has come to my attention that you, along with a vast majority of representatives of Michigan, have been opposing the OPG’s plan of creating a nuclear power plant near lake Huron. I’ve concluded rather that this idea proposed by OPG isn’t as terrible and threatening after all. Creating this power plant would bring countless jobs to Canada, produce clean fuel, and is almost completely safe.

First off, many people in Ontario need jobs. 6.9% to be exact. 938,400 people in Ontario do not have occupations. But if this nuclear power plant is created, it would create hundreds of jobs and provide food on the table for many families in need. A non-licensed nuclear plant worker makes around $65,000 per year, and that’s a lot better than being out of employment.

Also, Nuclear power produces “clean energy”, unlike fumes that get disposed into the air from fossil fuels. In no way will nuclear power pollute the air, as the fumes you see coming out of the cooling tower is water vapor from the process of splitting uranium atoms. However, Michigan allows fossil fuels to be pumped into our atmosphere and polluting not just our air, but the whole world’s. The Ozone layer is deteriorating and we’re doing nothing about it but we’re making a giant fuss about a clean mass energy source, which has a very slight chance of ruining our precious great lakes that we care so much about, which we are also polluting anyways. As you said, the great lakes are great boating destinations. What do most boats do? They give off carbon monoxide which shoots into the lakes from an exhaust pipe. That doesn’t exactly do well for the precious lakes that you care about.

And finally, this project is almost completely safe. As I said before, nuclear power produces clean energy. It will not harm the air. We can control where the waste goes and know where it is as it is visible, unlike fossil fuel as that gets distributed into the air. Also, this toxic waste will be buried about 680 metres below ground, just underneath the shale layer that acts as a natural shield or barrier from above. There is a very small chance of any kind of waste breaking that layer of sedimentary rock. And even if it did, there’s many layers of natural material above that. There are also very little ways for the waste to even break through any layers or get to the water. The area is seismically quiet, thus making earthquakes a near non-existent issue. There is also a deep and stable groundwater system, thus making little to no groundwater motion. And it’s geomechanically safe, as it’s dry and stable.

At last, the OPG should be allowed to create a nuclear power plant offshore off the great lake because the construction of it would bring countless jobs among Canada, all for us to continue to produce clean fuel, and is almost completely safe. I hope you thoroughly consider this letter and I’ll respect any decision you make.

Sincerely, Justin Strait.

Kayla Dickerson stated:

“I think we as people need to stop focusing on money and greed and worry about the well being of humans in general.If that dump site isn't properly contained it could contaminate our nation water source, that lake leads to every lake if that one is contaminated where will we get water from ? We won't be able to survive with no water all that will be left is groundwater and what's left in store. It would be a world crisis. But these large companies don't care about the well being of all they just care about themselves.”

Student Learning/Feedback

Madison Reeber stated: “I think that Sarah Roberts has influenced me to have a completely different mind set on this world and our environment. In some peoples eyes, they don’t care about the world. We might not always have fresh water to drink, bathe in or just throw around. The United states and Canada are running out of freshwater. Now the OPG is trying to put our limited freshwater at risk of contamination? That just seems dumb to me. But, i did enjoy writing the letter and knowing the possibility that my thoughts could be recognized by others.”

Lillian Crachiola stated:

“Some of the things I learned was how their was the OPG wanting to bury their nuclear waste dump 1km away from our non replaceable water source aka our great lakes. I also learned how in 10000 years the nuclear waste can erode and cause an even bigger problem. I think the OPG was a awful idea because they didn’t think of the risks that can happen and how it can affect more than one person! They said "it will most likely be safe" that is just silly how selfish. I enjoyed writing to Sarah Roberts and talking about how the OPG is not such a good idea.”

Peyton Wagner stated:

“I think that we learned about the importance of our great lakes and how some things can affect them negatively in such a great manor. If the great lakes (our fresh water source) is affected negatively then all living organisms that depend on the Great Lakes will be affected. Personally I was upset that people would even risk the great lakes and other peoples health just to get rid of nuclear waste. I've learned that there is cause and effect to every act against nature. Our fresh water is very important to human life and other people are putting that at risk. The class writing to representative, Sarah Roberts was very important and that we are making a large impact on what will happen without even realizing it.”

Lauryn McAllister stated:

“When we had learned the information about what the Ontario Power Generation was doing,I was a little shocked at the fact that someone thought that it would be a good idea to have nuclear waste by a source of fresh water and not think it was more than a little risky. But then when we had got to write to our representative Sarah Roberts made me feel as if there was hope for environment.”

Delaney Caldwell stated:

“I thought the activity was interesting, learning about the effects of nuclear waste and all about what will happen if our fresh water becomes contaminated. I was definitely surprised by the decision the OPG planned to make, especially after learning more about it. I think that writing to Sarah Roberts was a good idea, we need to take action if we want changes to be made. Overall, I liked this activity and was thoroughly interested by what we learned.”

● PBL units provide students to take initiative in their learning. Students start with the driving question and their investigation drives the project. It is fantastic to see the authentic conversations and products that arise.

● By inviting student feedback, you demonstrate respect for their opinions and underscore the value of student voice.

● It is frustrating when students don't at first engage with the project. It is a challenge of building a community of learners who are middle school age to feel safe enough to criticize one another's work and challenge each other’s opinion.

Teacher Learnings