OTTAWA - March 24, 2009 - Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced today that a comprehensive study is the most appropriate type of environmental assessment for the Vision 2010 project to redevelop Cameco Corporation’s conversion facility located in Port Hope, Ontario.
The Minister based his decision on the report and recommendation submitted by the responsible authority, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. The report contains information on the scope of the project, the factors to be considered in the environmental assessment and the scope of those factors, public comments in relation to the project, the potential of the project to cause significant adverse environmental effects and the ability of the comprehensive study to address issues relating to the project.
A copy of the report can be obtained by contacting:
Brian Torrie
Director, Environmental Assessment Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
280 Slater Street, Ottawa ON K1P 5S9
Tel.: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: 613-995-5086
EA@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission will now continue the comprehensive study and submit a comprehensive study report to the Minister of the Environment. At that time the public will have an opportunity to comment on the findings and recommendations of the report before the Minister renders his final decision.
Further information on the project is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry under reference number 06-03-22672.
The Vision 2010 project involves a comprehensive redevelopment of Cameco’s conversion facility located in Port Hope, Ontario. The project consists of decommissioning and demolishing approximately 20 old or underutilized buildings, including those used in the refining or conversion of uranium, removing contaminated soils, building materials and stored historical wastes, and constructing new replacement buildings. Three of the 20 are Class 1B nuclear facilities used to refine or convert uranium with a capacity of more than 100 tonnes per year.
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.
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For more information, media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434
