Environmental assessment start date: August 12, 2003
Type: Screening
FEAI reference number: 38942
Proponent: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL)
Location: Chalk River, Ontario

Latest update

• April 25, 2006 - CNSC Announces Decision on Screening Environmental Assessment for the Liquid Waste Storage Facility Project at Chalk River Laboratories
• March 30, 2006 – Panel of the Commission
• February 24, 2006 - Request for Public Comment - Draft Screening Report - Comment Period Closed
• February 10, 2006 - Request for Public Comment - Draft Screening Report
• January 8, 2004 - Environmental Assessment Guidelines issued by the CNSC
• August 21, 2003 - project description (see below)

Project Description

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has received notice that AECL is seeking an amendment to its operating licence to authorize the construction of new storage facilities for radioactive liquid waste stored on site at the Chalk River Laboratories. The project includes the transfer and consolidation of the existing waste, as well as the construction and operation of the new storage tanks.

The project proposed by AECL includes the consolidation and retrieval of the liquid wastes and tank rinses from 21 existing tanks; the construction of the liquid waste storage system; conditioning of the wastes and rinses; the transfer of the wastes to the new liquid waste storage system; and the management of the secondary liquid and solid wastes. The proposal will deal with existing wastes only. No new waste arising from ongoing operations on the Chalk River site would be added to the new storage system.

Before the Commission makes its decision on AECL’s application for authorization of its stored liquid waste proposal, a screening 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 related to the environmental assessment of the proposed stored liquid waste project, 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

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:

D. Howard
Licensing Project Officer
Wastes and Geosciences 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

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.