A decision on the fate of a proposed nuclear waste repository near Lake Huron is expected this year. The facility would be located in Canada. Less than one-mile from the shore of lake Huron.
Michigan U.S. congressman and environmental groups have raised concerns about the site - saying any kind of spill could be catastrophic.
The decision could rest with the Saugeen-Ojibway Nation. The proposed site would be on tribal territory and Ontario Power Generation, the company behind the site, committed in 2013 that they would not build the storage site without tribal consent.
Lester Anoquot is Chief of the Saugeen First Nation. He says the tribal members as young as 13 may be allowed to participate in a vote on whether the project should move forward.
“We’re exploring the idea. We believe the young people need to have a voice on this decision. Not just people 18 or older per say.”
Chief Anoquot says roughly four thousand people are members of the Saugeen-Ojibway Nation and will vote on the proposed site.
He says there will be roughly 20 meetings before the end of the year to discuss the proposed nuclear waste repository.