Environmental assessment start date: November 29, 2002
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number: 35287
Proponent: Hydro-Québec
Location: Bécancour, Québec

Latest update

• November 18, 2005 - Updated project description (below)
• November 18, 2005 - New Environmental Assessment Guidelines
• October 6, 2005 - CNSC announces decision on new Environmental Assessment Guidelines for the Gentilly-2 refurbishment project
• August 29, 2003 - Environmental Assessment Guidelines
• August 29, 2003 - CNSC Announces Decision on Environmental Assessment Guidelines for the Gentilly-2 Radioactive Waste Management Facility
• April 11, 2003 - Notice Public Hearing - June 26, 2003
• March 14, 2003 - Request for Public Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment Guidelines - Comment Period Closed
• February 12, 2003 - Request for Public Comment on the draft Environmental Assessment Guidelines
• February 12, 2003 - Draft Environmental Assessment Guidelines
• January 24, 2003 - Project description

Updated Project description

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has received notice from Hydro-Québec of its plans to refurbish the Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station in order to keep it in operation until 2035 and of its intent to apply for authorization to perform modifications to the radioactive waste and spent fuel storage facilities located at the Gentilly nuclear facility in Bécancour, Québec. Authorization for these modifications is sought due to refurbishment work being considered on the Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station. No request for authorization to proceed with the refurbishment has yet been requested by Hydro-Québec.

Before the CNSC makes its decision on Hydro-Québec's application regarding modifications to the waste facility, an environmental assessment must be completed in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

The proposed modifications and construction of new structures are needed to enable Hydro-Québec to better manage the radioactive waste resulting from the refurbishment work it is considering for Gentilly-2 nuclear power station. All construction activities would occur within the power station's exclusion area and in the immediate vicinity of the radioactive waste and spent fuel storage areas currently authorized by the CNSC.

The purpose of the environmental assessment is to identify the possible environmental effects of the project and to determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

The project includes:

• reloading fuel into the reactor;
• putting the generating station back in service following refurbishment;
• extending the operating life of the generating station and its operation to 2035;
• the modification and construction of works at the Solid Radioactive Waste Management Facility (SRWMF) and the Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility (UFDSF); and
• the operation of works at the Radioactive Waste Management Facility (RWMF), the UFDSF and the SRWMF.

Steps ahead

• Request for public comment on draft environmental assessment guidelines
• Public hearing on environmental assessment guidelines
• Request for public comment on draft screening report
• Public hearing on draft screening report
• Commission decision on the environmental assessment

Further information

The CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its environmental assessments. For more information about the environmental assessment of the project to modify the Gentilly radioactive waste storage facilities, please contact:

Guy Riverin
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Processing Facilities and 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.