OTTAWA, April 1st, 2008 - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency today announced the availability of up to $75,000 in participant funding to assist groups and/or individuals to take part in the environmental assessment of Ontari io Power Generation's (OPG) proposed Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant Project near Oshawa, Ontario. The total funding amount will be made available in two separate phases.
Phase I: Up to $75,000 is being made available imme diately to help successful applicants review and comment on the draft guidelines for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be produced by the project proponent, OPG, and/or to help applicants participate in public meetings. Information on the se future opportunities for public participation will be communicated at a later date.
Phase II: Additional funds will be made available to help applicants review OPG's EIS and/or prepare for and participate in the public hea rings. Phase II will be announced at a later date.
A funding review committee, independent of the review panel, will consider all applications and recommend allocation of funds to applicants according to the eligibility criteria set out in the Participant Funding Program Guide. Applications received by the Agency no later than May 1st, 2008, will be considered.
The Participant Funding Program Guide and the application form are available on the Agency's Web site. Information on the proposed project is also available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, under referenc e number 07-03-29525.
The project is a proposal by OPG to construct and operate up to four new reactors with a total capacity of 4800 MW at its Darlington nuclear site located near Oshawa, Ontario. Several reactor technologies are being considered for the purposes of the environmental assessment. Construction and operation of appropriate waste management facilities are also being examined.
For additional information on the pa rticipant funding program, contact:
Suzanne Osborne
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Place Bell Canada
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 613-957-0254 (collect calls accepted)
Fax: 6 13-948-9172
suzanne.osborne@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
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The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifie s the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
Media may contact:
Nicholas Girard
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environment al Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0958
nicholas.girard@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
