Backgrounder and Steps Ahead

Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Construction and Operation of Additional Storage at Bruce Nuclear Power Development Radioactive Waste Operations Site 2 - Tiverton, Ontario

In 2000, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) applied for a licence amendment for the Bruce Nuclear Power Development Radioactive Waste Operations Site 2, near Tiverton, Ontario. The amendment would allow for construction of additional storage structures at the site, to be used for the storage of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. OPG proposes to construct the following:

• an additional low-level storage building for low-level waste
• 108 in-ground containers for the storage of intermediate-level waste
• 20 in-ground containers for the storage of waste heat exchangers

The proposed building and containers are of the same design as those currently in use at the facility.

In April 2000, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) issued a scope of project and assessment document for government comment. The final version of the scope document, issued in May 2000, was used to direct the environmental assessment studies. In accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA), the CNSC delegated the responsibility of performing the environmental assessment study to OPG.

From May to June, 2000, OPG conducted a number of public information sessions to elicit comments on the proposed construction project. In September 2000, the first draft of the report on the environmental assessment study was released by the CNSC to federal and provincial government reviewers. The CNSC used the comments received from government reviewers on the first draft of the study report to finalize the screening report. The final version of the screening report must be approved by the designated officer, on behalf of the Commission, prior to consideration of the licence amendment.

The CNSC is seeking public comment and input on the screening report, which will be taken into consideration by the Commission's designated officer when s/he makes the decision on whether or not the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and in determining a subsequent course of action under CEAA.

Please submit your written comments by May 22, 2001 to:

Ms. Kay Klassen
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
280 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON K1P 5S9

Tel.: 1-800-668-5284 E-mail: ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

For information on CEAA or on the environmental assessment process, please refer to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's web site at www.ceaa.gc.ca.