You may have noticed the recent media attention regarding the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR). MNR is currently seeking a license renewal for the operation of the reactor, and this past Wednesday Chris Heysel, director of MNR, Dave Tucker, senior health physicist, Mike Butler, MNR manager of reactor operations and I appeared before the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in Ottawa.

Two individuals opposing the license renewal also appeared before the Commission and received media attention. At the root of their protest is a brand of racial and religious stereotyping not tolerated by McMaster University. Indeed, CNSC acting chairman Alan Graham, quoted in Thursday's National Post, said “racial and religious stereotyping are objectionable” and not in keeping with the views of the Commission.

That said, McMaster takes very seriously allegations that its reactor is not secure. The University has in fact taken a U.S. author and his publisher to court over what can only be described as a smear campaign against the University, its faculty, staff and students. The publisher, WND Books, a division of Cumberland House Publishing, immediately posted a retraction and apology on its website, and has promised to excise the defaming remarks in future editions of the book The Dunces of Doomsday.

That has not stopped the author, however, from spreading his claims about McMaster and the reactor. The matter is before the courts and McMaster is awaiting a trial date.

Rest assured that McMaster's nuclear reactor, a small, low-power reactor, is safe and secure, and the University would never allow it to operate if it wasn't. The reactor is closely monitored by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and other regulatory agencies and the Commission has stated categorically that the facility has never had a security breach. CNSC staff are recommending the renewal of the MNR license.

The reactor is vital to scientific research in many disciplines. It saves lives every day with its isotope production used in the treatment of prostate cancer; it is used to date archeological artifacts; it's used by the mining industry to determine the geological makeup of core samples.

The decision of the CNSC is expected in 30 days. We will continue to keep you posted on this issue.

Peter George