Environmental assessment start date: February 15, 2005
Type: Screening
CEAR reference number: 05-01-9236
Proponent: MDS Nordion
Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Latest Update

• February 18, 2005 - Project description (see below)

Project Description

MDS Nordion is proposing a waste diversion program for its Nuclear Medicine Radiopharmaceutical Operations, located in Ottawa, Ontario. Currently, all solid waste from MDS Nordion's Nuclear Medicine Radiopharmaceutical Operations facility is shipped to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's Chalk River Laboratories located in Chalk River, Ontario. The purpose of the waste diversion program is to initiate a more responsible waste management program that reduces the demand on Canada's limited capacity for storage of radioactive material, while at the same time ensuring environmental and public protection. Under the proposed waste diversion program, solid waste that is not associated with the processing of radioisotopes would be segregated at source. This waste would then be monitored to verify its status as 'non-hazardous', and disposed of according to disposal practices for conventional waste.

Before the Commission makes its decision on MDS Nordion’s proposal to segregate radioactive waste and to divert the non-hazardous waste, 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

For questions or information directly related to the environmental assessment of the proposed waste diversion proposal, please contact:

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

The CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its environmental assessments. Lists and copies of documents may be obtained upon request from:

A. Erdman
Licensing Project Officer
Processing Facilities and Technical Support Division
Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation
280 Slater Street
P.O. Box 1046
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
Telephone: 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.