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Environmental Assessment
Decommissioning of Cluff Lake Uranium Facility
Environmental Assessment Start Date: April 15, 1999
Type: Comprehensive Study
FEAI reference number: 18738
Proponent: COGEMA Resources Inc.
Location: Cluff Lake, Saskatchewan
Latest Update
- July 20, 2004 -
CNSC Announces Decision to Issue a Uranium Mine Decommissioning Licence for
COGEMA's Cluff Lake Project Located in Northern Saskachewan
- April 15, 2004 –
Environment Minister Announces Decision on Cluff Lake Uranium Mine
Decommissioning
- February 27, 2004 -
Notice - Public Hearings - April 29, 2004 and June 9, 2004
-
January 28, 2004 – CEAA request for Public Comment on the Comprehensive
Study Report: Comment period closed on February 27, 2004
- January 12, 2004 – Comprehensive Study Report submitted to the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Agency and the Minister of the Environment
- October
31, 2003 – Licence application submitted by COGEMA Resources Inc.
- October 15, 1999 - Final Scope of Project and Assessment Report released
- September 8, 1999 - Request for Public Comment on Draft Scope of Project and Assessment Report for Comprehensive Study
Project Description
In 1999, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), then the Atomic
Energy Control Board, received a notice from COGEMA Resources Incorporated (CRI)
of its intent to apply for a licence to decommission its uranium mining facility
at Cluff Lake, in northern Saskatchewan. The major components of the uranium
mining facility include: a mill, surface tailings management area, three
underground mines, four open pits, four waste rock storage areas, a camp, a
landing strip, and other supporting infrastructure.
Before a licensing decision could be made on CRI's application to
decommission the Cluff Lake uranium facility, an environmental assessment had to
be completed in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The
purpose of an environmental assessment is to identify the possible environmental
effects of a proposed project, and determine whether these effects can be
mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.
The Environmental Assessment process included a period for public comment on
the draft Scope of Project and Assessment Report, which ended on October 4,
1999. These comments were reviewed and incorporated into the final report, which
is available at CNSC offices in Ottawa and Saskatoon.
The Scope of Project and Assessment Report served to both guide and direct
CRI on the preparation of a set of Comprehensive Study documents for the
proposed decommissioning of its uranium mining facility. Decommissioning
involves the management of the closure, dismantling, waste management, site
remediation, care and maintenance, and continued monitoring and surveillance of
the areas and facilities at Cluff Lake. The initial EA Comprehensive Study
documents were circulated in December 2000 and in January 2001 for regulatory
and public review. The documents underwent extensive technical review by federal
and provincial government agencies, and comments were provided to the proponent
in May 2001. Following further public consultation meetings, CRI's review and
response to the government technical review comments was submitted to the CNSC
and other review agencies in January 2002, in the form of an Addendum to the
Comprehensive Study documents. A further government review of the Addendum was
completed in May 2002. On October 31, 2002, CRI provided a draft of the
Comprehensive Study Report (CSR) to the CNSC, to enable the CNSC to complete the
final drafting of the report.
The final drafting of the CSR was carried throughout 2003 and completed in
December of the same year. The CNSC submitted the CSR to the Minister of
Environment and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) in January
2004 for formal public review. The Minister of the Environment issued its
decision on the Environmental Assessment on April 15, 2004. The Minister
determined that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse
environmental effects with the implementation of the mitigation measures
outlined in the comprehensive study report.
Further Information
The CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its
environmental assessments. For questions or information directly related to the
environmental assessment on the proposed decommissioning of the Cluff Lake
Uranium Facility, or for lists or copies of documents, please contact:
Clarence Natomagan
Project Officer - Cluff Lake
Uranium Mines and Lands Evaluation Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
101 -22nd Street East
Saskatoon, SK S7K 0E1
Phone: 1-306-975-6382
Fax: 1-306-975-6387
E-mail: natomaganc@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
Guy Riverin
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Processing Facilities & Technical Support Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5S9
Phone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: (613) 995-5086
E-mail: ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
The CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health,
safety, security and the environment and to respect Canada's international
commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
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