I1me NUCLEAR WASTE SOCIETE DE GESTION MANAGEMENT DES DECHETS ORGANIZATION March 2, 2015 Mayor Mark Figliomeni Township of Schreiber 204 Albert Street P.O. Box 40 Schreiber, 0N POT 250 Re: Adaptive Phased Management Site Selection Process - Initial Findings from Step 3, Phase 2 Preliminary Assessments Dear Mayor Figliomeni, I am writing to bring to your attention findings from initial geoscience evaluations conducted in your area as part of Step 3, Phase 2 assessments. These findings have implications for your community?s involvement in the site selection process for the Adaptive Phased Management (APM) project. The Township of Schreiber requested the opportunity to learn more about the APM Project through the process of Step 3, Phase 2 Preliminary Assessments in your area. As you know, the purpose of Preliminary Assessments is to assess potential to meet the robust safety and community well-being requirements for siting Canada?s repository for used nuclear fuel and Centre of Expertise. This stage of assessment guides the NWMO in identifying areas that show strong potential to meet siting requirements and to be the focus of progressively more detailed study. Over time, the site selection process will arrive at a single, preferred safe site in an area with an informed and willing host. The process for identifying an informed and willing host is designed to ensure, above all, that the site selected is safe and secure for people and the environment, now and in the future. In this regard, geoscientific evaluations are an important foundation for Phase 2 studies. In 2014 the NWMO completed a series of geoscientific field studies in your area, and we have recently completed our analysis of the data collected. The objectives of these initial field studies were to advance understanding of the geology of the Schreiber area, and assess whether it is possible to identify candidate areas to be the focus of further field studies. The Phase 2 geoscientific preliminary assessment included the following key activities: 0 Acquisition and processing of high-resolution airborne geophysical data (magnetic and gravity data); I Detailed interpretation of the high-resolution gravity and magnetic data to better understand the bedrock geology such as geological contacts, depth and extent of rock units, lithological and structural heterogeneity; Tel 416.934.9814 22 St.Clair Avenue East 6th Floor Fax 416.934.9526 Toronto Ontario Canada M4T 253 Toll Free 1.866.249.6966 0 Detailed interpretation of surficial and magnetic lineaments using the newly acquired high- resolution remote sensing and magnetic surveys to identify possible structural features such as fractures, shear zones and dykes; and 0 Observation of general geological features to ground-truth geologic characteristics such as lithology, structures, bedrock exposure and surface constraints. The acquisition and interpretation of the new Phase 2 data greatly improved understanding of the geology of the areas studied, and allowed for a more detailed assessment of the geoscientific uncertainties and complexities identified in the Phase 1 desktop preliminary assessments. The ?ndings of these initial Phase 2 studies for the Schreiber area are documented in four reports: Findings from Initial Field Studies report; Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation of High- Resolution Airborne Geophysical Data report; Lineament Interpretation report; and Observation of General Geological Features report. As described in the enclosed reports, the Interpretation of the new Phase 2 data confirmed the presence of geological complexities that reduce the likelihood of finding a suitable repository site in the Schreiber area. The studies show that there is limited potential to meet safety requirements of the project in the Schreiber area. More specifically, while the geoscientific assessment identified two potential candidate areas that could be considered for detailed geological mapping, these areas exhibit a high degree of structural complexity, and have a number of unfavourable geoscientific characteristics. Both identified areas contain numerous interpreted subsurface fractures that could have an impact on the long-term performance of a repository. Avoiding interpreted subsurface fractures would result in a much larger repository footprint. The space that would be available to accommodate a larger repository footprint in the Schreiber area would be limited because of the relatively small extent of the two identified areas, and the increased structural complexity in the surrounding rocks. In light of these findings, the NWMO will conclude studies in your community. Safety, security and protection of people and the environment are central to the siting process, and it is important that we are guided by these findings concerning geoscientific suitability. It is out of respect and fairness to you, your community members and communities in the surrounding area, that we provide you with this feedback arising from the geoscientific studies recently completed. We have heard from communities through the course of our work that, where findings suggest an area has low potential to meet project requirements, we should have timely discussions to support the orderly conclusion of studies. Please let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership you and the Schreiber community have demonstrated in implementing Canada?s plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel. As a member of the group of communities that together advanced the process for this important national infrastructure project, we look fomard to regularly updating you about progress. The NWMO will work closely with you to plan your community?s transition out of the site selection process. We thank you and the many community members in Schreiber and the surrounding area who worked closely with the NWMO team to advance Canada?s plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel. Sincerely, Shaver, Vice President, APM Public Engagement and Site Selection Attachments: - Phase 2 Geoscientific Preliminary Assessment, Findings from Initial Field Studies, Township of Schreiber, Ontario (Geofirma 2015). - Phase 2 Geoscientific Preliminary Assessment, Lineament Interpretation, Township of Schreiber, Ontario (SRK 2015). - Phase 2 Geoscienti?c Preliminary Assessment, Observation of General Geological Features, Township of Schreiber, Ontario (Fladgate and Geofirma 2015). - Phase 2 Geoscientific Preliminary Assessment, Acquisition, Processing and Interpretation of High-Resolution Airborne Geophysical Data, Township of Schreiber, Ontario (SGL 2015) w- . .?r7 v- - - -, .--. - - 1 .1 .