Environmental Assessment
Cameco Corporation - Increase to Flow from the Reverse Osmosis Plant

Environmental assessment start date: August 4th, 2006
Type: Screening
CEAR reference number: 06-01-21836
Proponent: Cameco Corporation
Location: Key Lake, Saskatchewan

Project Description

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant at the Key Lake mill treats contaminated water from the dewatering system of the mined-out Deilmann and Gaertner pits. The treated water from the RO plant is discharged to Horsefly Lake, of the McDonald Creek drainage system. Filter backwash wastewater from the RO plant is sent to the Key Lake Mill for use in the milling process.

Cameco Corporation (Cameco) requested approval to increase the discharge flow of the RO plant at the Key Lake operation from the current 10,000 m³/day to approximately 22,400 m³/day. The proposed increase in capacity is required to control water levels in the Gaertner and Deilmann Tailings Management Facility (DTMF).

Before the CNSC could consider Cameco’s request for approval, 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 project, please contact:

Michael Rinker
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Environmental Assessment and Protection 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:

P. Courtney
Project Officer
Uranium Mines and Mills Division
Directorate of Nuclear Cycle and Facilities Regulation
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
101 22nd Street E., Suite 520
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 0E1
Ph: (306) 975-6376
Fx: (306) 975-6387
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.