DNA (Durham Nuclear Awareness) is a volunteer group of concerned citizens dedicated to raising awareness about nuclear issues & risks facing the people & communities of Durham Region (east of Toronto, Ontario), an area home to not just one, but two gigantic nuclear plants – & also the risks to the entire GTA (Greater Toronto Area).

These issues/risks include:

• continued production & storage of high-level radioactive wastes

• on-going “routine” releases of ionizing radiation from CANDU reactors during normal operations

• the need to incorporate the lessons learned as a result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that began on March 11, 2011.

An issue of particular concern to DNA is inadequate planning for nuclear emergencies at both of Durham Region’s nuclear plants.

As Dr. Maureen McCue (MD, PhD, Physicians for Social Responsibility) stated, when speaking at a United Nations event in New York City on March 13, 2013, “Evacuation zones/planning are inadequate all over the world.” (Note: right at the top of this blog site is the heading ‘Quotes about Fukushima Disaster.’ Click on it to find great quotations and insights about the Japanese nuclear disaster that began on March 11/11.)

Given the population size & density of Durham Region & its proximity to Toronto, Canada’s largest city, DNA has grave concerns about the ability of the nuclear industry & the government agencies it depends upon to properly evacuate those who would need to be evacuated in the case of a serious accident involving a large release of radioactivity.

DNA Background & History

DNA formed in 1986, post-Chernobyl accident and was born out of a need for people in Durham Region to come together, learn & empower themselves after the Chernobyl nuclear accident on April 26, 1986. The group was very active during the late 1980s & the 90s, always calling for enhanced nuclear emergency planning from its earliest days (take a look at this 1997 letter to the provincial government).

The group was closely affiliated with Nuclear Awareness Project, sharing information about nuclear issues in Durham Region. Activities included:

• Advocating for improvements to nuclear emergency plans, including increasing the current 10 km primary planning zone to 30 km (see this 1997 letter from DNA to provincial authorities)

• Advocating for pre-distribution of KI pills to block absorption of radioactive iodine during nuclear emergencies, correcting the shortfalls in the public alerting system & ensuring that nuclear emergency plans prepare us for scenarios that go beyond the status quo government assumption that accidental uncontrolled releases of radiation during an emergency are so unlikely that plans are not required for that possibility

• Calling for the establishment of effective health studies to monitor the impact of Durham’s nuclear industry on public health. Our efforts resulted in the establishment of the Durham Region Darlington Pre-Baseline Health Study Committee

• Challenging the operating licenses for Pickering & Darlington with presentations to the Atomic Energy Control Board & the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

• Lobbying for a ban on the export of tritium, which is the radioactive hydrogen used in hydrogen bombs

• Lobbying unsuccessfully for zero emissions of tritium from Durham’s nuclear generating stations

• Lobbying for a review of the provincial guidelines for tritium in drinking water, which resulted in provincial reviews by the Advisory Committee on Environmental Standards (ACES) & the Ontario Drinking Water Advisory Council (ODWAC). The province continues to ignore the recommendations made by their own consultants which would see permissible concentrations of this carcinogenic toxin dropped from the current 7,000 Bq/l (disintegrations per second per litre of water) to just 20 Bq/l averaged annually

• Participating in the ‘Stop the Tritium Trucks’ campaign

About the group’s history

As explained above, DNA formed in 1986, post-Chernobyl accident. The group was very active during the late 1980s & the 90s (see above), always calling for enhanced nuclear emergency planning from its earliest days (take a look at this 1997 letter to the provincial government). DNA then experienced a lull in the early years of the new millennium, later becoming active once again after the Ontario provincial government & Ontario Power Generation (OPG) put forth a proposal to build 2-4 new reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. The Fukushima nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011 was another major factor motivating DNA’s re-birth. (Note: a great collection of quotations about the Fukushima disaster on the DNA site here, & another great collection of quotes here.) 

DNA Activities Between 2012 – 2018

• In 2018 the group took part in the Pickering relicensing hearing, attending relevant workshops & conferences, attending Durham Nuclear Health Committee’s 5 annual meetings (we’re … um … flattered?? that they seem to have tried to more or less co-opt?? our group’s name – though pretty suspicious as to why they have done so), & co-hosting public events.

• During 2017, our primary focus was on speaking with politicians about nuclear emergency planning. The PNERP (Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan) – four long years overdue in being updated – was finally released in December. (Advisory group report here. News release from the Province here. PNERP itself is here. & a recent Toronto media item here.) DNA had made a submission to the Ontario government as part of this review, along with 1500 other individuals/groups.

• See ‘A Call for Public Safety‘ – endorsed by 40+ civil society groups.

• Co-sponsoring events to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

• Reminding the public of the 32nd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that began on April 26, 1986. Posting here.

• Working to stop the shipments of highly radioactive liquid material between Chalk River, ON & the Savannah River Site (South Carolina.) See the posting Radioactive Roads: this plan must be stopped!

• You can find Darlington relicensing hearing (Nov. 2-5, 2015) postings here, here & here. DNA’s written submission to CNSC. Summary hearing posting with many links here.

• Continuing advocacy for updated emergency planning & international best practices.

• Surveying municipal candidates for views on nuclear emergency preparedness in lead-up to October 27/14 municipal election: results now published.

• Public/politician education about the use of potassium iodide (KI) in the event of a nuclear emergency. KI info on this site here. A very key KI-related brochure from the American Thyroid Association, here.

• Calling on Durham Regional Council to advocate for updated nuclear emergency plans (see this post)

• Informing Durham Region politicians about emergency planning needs

• Taking part in the Pickering re-licensing “Hold Point” hearing (May 2014)

• Intervening in the Pickering re-licensing hearing (May 29, 30, 31, 2013)

• So-hosting public events such as panel discussions & film showings

• Intervening in the Darlington refurbishment hearing (December 2012)