Commission grants licence amendment to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to enter active decommissioning for Douglas Point Waste Facility  

From: Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

News release

March 15, 2021

Today, the Commission announced its decision to amend the waste facility decommissioning licence issued to Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Ltd. (CNL) for its Douglas Point Waste Facility, located in Tiverton, Ontario. This decision follows a public hearing held virtually on November 25 and 26, 2020. The amended licence allows CNL to undertake Phase 3 active decommissioning activities, including the decommissioning and dismantlement of certain facilities and structures at the facility.

In making its decision, the Commission considered oral and written submissions from CNL, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) staff and 21 intervenors. The Commission also made participant funding available through the CNSC’s Participant Funding Program and invited interventions from Indigenous groups, members of the public and stakeholders in this matter. Seven requesters received participant funding to assist with interventions.

After reviewing all submissions, the Commission concluded that CNL is qualified to carry out the decommissioning activities for Phase 3, which the amended licence will authorize. It also concluded that CNL will make adequate provisions for the protection of the environment, and the health and safety of persons.

The record of decision is available on request to the Commission Secretariat at cnsc.interventions.ccsn@canada.ca. The decision will also be posted in both official languages on nuclearsafety.gc.ca at a later date. All submissions, hearing transcripts and the hearing webcast are available on the CNSC website.

The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials in order to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment. The CNSC is also mandated to implement Canada’s international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to disseminate objective scientific, technical and regulatory information to the public.

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Timeline

  •  A 20-year waste facility decommissioning licence for the Douglas Point Waste Facility was issued to CNL in 2014 and will expire on December 31, 2034. 
  • CNL applied for a licence amendment in July 2019, requesting approval to proceed with Phase 3 active decommissioning at the Douglas Point Waste Facility.
  • The CNSC made funding available in February 2020 through the Participant Funding Program to support Indigenous peoples, members of the public and stakeholders so that they could present their views to the Commission.
  • The Commission held a virtual public hearing on November 25 and 26, 2020. Hearing transcripts and archived webcast are available on the CNSC website or by request at cnsc.interventions.ccsn@canada.ca.
  • The amended licence will be valid until December 31, 2030, in order to align with Phase 3 decommissioning activities.

Quick facts

  • The Douglas Point Waste Facility consists of the permanently shut down, partially decommissioned 200-megawatt electric prototype CANDU reactor and associated buildings, structures and systems.

  • The facility is located on the Bruce Power nuclear site on the east shore of Lake Huron in Tiverton, Ontario.

  •  The facility has been in Phase 2 of decommissioning – storage with surveillance – since 1988.

  • In July, 2019, CNL requested a licence amendment to authorize Phase 3 decommissioning to allow it to:

    • remove systems and components within the reactor building
    • demolish the reactor building.

  •  A detailed decommissioning plan for each planned group of Phase 3 decommissioning activities must still be submitted to, and accepted by CNSC staff before work commences.

  •  CNL submitted an Indigenous Engagement Report that outlines how it will approach Indigenous engagement with respect to decommissioning, and incorporate Indigenous views and values into the facility’s remediation.

Contacts

Meghan Gerrish
Media Relations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
613-996-6860 or 1-800-668-5284
cnsc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.ccsn@canada.ca 

 

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