A proposed nuclear waste site in Ontario has two Michigan state representatives seeking help to oppose it. 

On Friday, Michigan State Rep. Gary Howell, R-Lapeer, and State Rep. Shane Hernandez, R-Port Huron, introduced House Concurrent Resolution 12 in hopes of finding a way to stop the development of a waste storage site in Kincardine, Ontario. 

The resolution calls for congress to take "every legal action possible" to stop construction of the storage site. It also asks Canada to prohibit "a high-level nuclear waste repository" in the Great Lakes Basin. 

"Storing nuclear waste in this location would be a huge mistake,” Hernandez said in a statement. 

“If something were to go wrong, it would be devastating to the health of the Great Lakes and the safety of residents. It’s dangerously close to the main drinking water intakes for all of southeast Michigan, and it would affect the entire Great Lakes region. This plan must be stopped in its tracks right now.”

READ: Canada might put its most dangerous nuclear wastes on shores of Lake Huron

The resolution will be read into the record this week, and if adopted, sent to the White House, Michigan's congressional delegation, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Canadian authorities, according to a news release from Hernandez' office. 

"The ecology of the Great Lakes is valuable beyond measure to the health and economic well-being of our entire region,” Howell said in a news release. “I strongly urge Congress to take every legal action possible to prevent this from happening."

What's next? 

In November, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization identified potential sites to store used nuclear fuel. One is in the township of Ignace and two others are near Kincardine, one in the township of Huron Kinloss and the other in South Bruce. 

"This would be high-level nuclear waste from every nuclear plant in Canada," Howell said in his statement. "The waste would be placed at Kincardine, Ontario less than a mile from the Lake Huron shore and only 1,300 feet below the lake level – making for a potential catastrophe waiting to happen."

If developed, Huron-Kinloss/South Bruce could be the forever home for spent nuclear fuel from across Canada — stored 1,650 feetor more underground, the Detroit Free Press reported in November. 

The site selection process began in 2010, the November statement said. 

The NWMO is a nonprofit founded by Canadian nuclear power producers in 2002, according to the organization's website. It is tasked with "designing and implementing Canada's plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel." 

On Monday, NWMO spokesperson Bradley Hammond said the planning process is still underway. 

"Currently the NWMO is leading a site selection process to identify a single, preferred location for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel, to be located in an area with informed and willing hosts," Hammond said in a statement. "This process is ongoing in two areas, Ignace, in northwestern Ontario and either Huron-Kinloss or South Bruce in southern Ontario, pending the outcome of an ongoing process with local landowners."

The next steps involve technical site evaluation work, engineering and research activities and "ongoing engagement with the communities and indigenous communities in the site selection areas," Hammond said. 

The NWMO plans to identified a preferred location by 2023, Hammond said. 

Senators spoke out

In November, Michigan's two U.S. senators, Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, voiced opposition to nuclear storage so close to Lake Huron. 

"The Great Lakes provide drinking water to over 40 million people and are part of who we are as Michiganders," Peters said in a written statement. "That’s why we need to do everything we can to protect the Great Lakes for future generations. I am extremely concerned about the possibility of hazardous nuclear waste being stored near the Great Lakes. Any accident could have catastrophic and long-term consequences to the health and well-being of Michigan and the country."

Stabenow said the Great Lakes are as important to Canada as they are to Michigan and the plan "makes no sense." 

"There is no justification for a nuclear waste site so close to Lake Huron to even be under consideration," Stabenow said. "I will reach out to the Canadian government as I have in the past when I led efforts to stop the last nuclear waste storage proposal. I am hopeful they will be willing to recognize and respect the deep concerns of the people of Michigan.” 

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