ID: 58
Presenting Author: Elizabeth Williamson
Status: pending
The Regional Information and Monitoring Network (RIMNet) is a new initiative designed to centralize existing data related to nuclear activity within the Ottawa River watershed.
Environmental monitoring programs are essential for building public trust in regulatory processes. However, the quantity of data and variety of programs can be overwhelming. The Regional Information and Monitoring Network (RIMNet) is a new initiative co-led by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and Environment and Climate Change Canada to directly address concerns expressed by the public and Indigenous Nations and communities about the availability of environmental monitoring data within the Ottawa River/Kichi Sibi watershed. The RIMNet initiative uses existing information related to nuclear activities in the watershed, including radionuclide and non-radionuclide data from various monitoring programs (e.g., government, non-government organizations) to build an open-access database and synthesis results into a state of the environment report. Building trust is a core component of the RIMNet initiative, therefore, Indigenous nations and communities and environmental non-government organizations participate in the RIMNet initiative to ensure it meets their needs. The state of the environment report will synthesize quantitative and qualitative information, including Indigenous Knowledge shared with consent by participating Indigenous nations. RIMNet will also identify current knowledge gaps and opportunities for the future development of a multi-jurisdictional, active monitoring program. The RIMNet initiative will improve information sharing, transparency, and the communication of evidence related to nuclear facilities in the Ottawa River/Kichi Sibi watershed.
Elizabeth Williamson is an Environmental Review Officer at the CNSC with a Master of Climate Change and Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo.
Coauthor 1: Courtney Robichaud