Environmental assessment start date: September 13, 2004
Type: Screening
CEAR reference number: 04-01-6517
Proponent: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
Location: Chalk River, Ontario

Latest update:

• September 30, 2004 – Project description (see below)

Project Description

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has received an application from AECL for authorization to decommission a waste water evaporator facility located at the Chalk River Laboratories. This would require an amendment to AECL operating licence pursuant to section 24 of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), The waste water evaporator facility is a Class IB nuclear facility under the Class I Nuclear Facilities Regulations.

This facility, constructed in 1952, was used to process and treat radioactive liquid wastes produced by the NRX fuel reprocessing work conducted between 1952 and 1958. Some evaporation activities were also sporadically carried out between 1958 and 1967 to concentrate about 450 m3 of stored process wastes remaining from earlier fuel processing. The facility was shutdown in 1971. Decommissioning activities for this facility include: removal, treatment and storage of suspected liquid wastes and sludge in tanks, process lines and equipment; decontamination and removal of process equipment and processing cells; demolition of building structure; segregation of solid wastes and transfer to waste management facilities at the CRL; and, removing of any contaminated soil; and, site restoration.

Before the Commission makes its decision on AECL’s application, an environmental assessment must 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 to determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

Further Information

The CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its environmental assessments. Lists and copies of documents may be obtained upon request. For questions or information directly related to this environmental assessment, please contact:

Claude David
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Processing Facilities and Environmental Assessment Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
Phone : 1-800-668-5284
Fax : (613) 995-5086
E-mail : ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

For more information on the environmental assessment process, please refer to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency web site at www.ceaa-acee.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.