Environmental Assessment
Decommissioning of the Fuel Storage and Handling Bays Chalk River
Laboratories, Atomic Energy Canada Limited
Environmental Assessment Start Date: April 2000
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number:
16692
Proponent: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
Location: Chalk River, Ontario
Latest Update
Project Description
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has received notice from Atomic
Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) of its intent to proceed with the
decommissioning of the Fuel Storage and Handling Bays located at the Chalk River
Laboratories (CRL) in Chalk River, Ontario.
The Fuel Storage and Handling Bays were built in the mid 1940s and provided
underwater storage for experimental and driver fuels used in the now shutdown
National Research Experimental research reactor and act as a storage bay for
irradiated fuel from the Nuclear Power Demonstration reactor.
The bays were taken out of active operation in 1993 and all fuels and stored
materials were removed to either the CRL waste management areas or other storage
facilities on the CRL site by October 1995. No irradiated fuel has been stored
in the bays since that time. The fuel was moved to engineered storage facilities
at CRL. Components used in operations to transport, store and examine fuel
remain in the bays. The bays have undergone preliminary decontamination through
vacuuming, and the structural integrity of Buildings 204 A/B wall structures has
been assessed.
Before the CNSC makes its decision on AECL's licence amendment 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 determine
whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.
Step Ahead
- Decision of the Commission
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 from:
For questions or information directly related to the environmental assessment
on the proposed decommissioning of the Fuel Storage and Handling Bays in Chalk
River, please contact:
Claude David
Environmental Assessment Specialist
Environmental Assessment and Protection 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
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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