OTTAWA, April 4, 2008 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (the CNSC) today released for public comment two documents - the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) guidelines and the draft Joint Review Panel (JRP) agreement - related to the proposed Bruce Power New Nuclear Power Plant Project located in the municipality of Kincardine, Ontario.
The draft EIS guidelines identify the information needed to examine the potential environmental effects of the proposed project, as well as its requirements for a licence to prepare a site. After considering public comments, the EIS guidelines will be finalized and provided to Bruce Power.
The JRP agreement deals with the establishment of a panel to perform an assessment of the project's environmental impact and of the application for a licence to prepare a site – the first of several licences required by the Nuclear Safety and Control Act and its regulations. It includes procedures for appointing the JRP members, the proposed terms of reference (i.e. responsibilities), and process for conducting the review. After taking comments into consideration, the draft agreement will be finalized and the panel will be appointed to review the project.
The two documents are available at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry number 07-05-25738), at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca or from the contact mentioned below.
Written comments on the draft documents, in either English or French, must be received no later than June 18, 2008, and sent to:
Bruce Power New Nuclear Power Plant Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, Place Bell Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3
Tel.: 1-866-582-1884
Fax: 613-954-0941
E-mail: Bruce.Review@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
To register as an interested party and be kept informed of activities relating to the joint- panel review process, provide a full mailing address, an e-mail address or a fax number, to the above contact information.
A public information session will be held in the area near the project by the Agency and the CNSC in order to give the public the opportunity to learn more about the draft EIS guidelines and JRP agreement for this project. The date and location of this public information session will be posted at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca and www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca in the near future.
The project is a proposal by Bruce Power Inc. for the site preparation, and the construction, operation, decommissioning and abandonment of up to four new nuclear reactors at the existing Bruce Nuclear Site, located on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, north of Kincardine. The project is expected to generate approximately 4,000 megawatts of electricity to the Ontario grid.
As a pre-requisite to licensing a new nuclear power plant, an environmental assessment (EA) under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act must be conducted before any licensing decision can be made. On June 26, 2007, the Honourable John Baird, federal Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Agency, announced the referral of the project to a review panel. In addition to the CNSC, other responsible authorities for the project's EA include the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Transport Canada.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission 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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The Government of Canada today released two documents related to the environmental assessment and licensing of the proposed Bruce Power New Nuclear Power Plant Project located in the municipality of Kincardine, Ontario. Comments on the documents must be received prior to June 18, 2008. For more information, please visit www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca.
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For more information, media may contact:
Environmental Assessment Process:
Nicholas Girard
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0958
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Licensing Process:
Aurèle Gervais
Media and Community Relations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Tel.: 613-996-6860
www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca
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