OTTAWA, January 24, 2012 – The Honourable Peter Kent, federal Minister of the Environment and Michael Binder, President of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), today announced the establishment of a three-member joint panel to review Ontario Power Generation’s proposed project to construct and operate a facility for the long-term management of low and intermediate level radioactive waste in Ontario.
Dr. Stella Swanson has been appointed as the Panel chair and Dr. James F. Archibald and Dr. Gunter Muecke have been appointed as members of the Joint Review Panel. Biographical information on the chair and members is available in the accompanying backgrounder.
A joint review panel agreement establishes the mandate and authorities of the Joint Review Panel, its composition, as well as the procedures and timeline for the review.
Under the agreement, the Joint Review Panel will conduct an examination of the environmental effects of the proposed project to meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Panel will also obtain the information necessary for the consideration of the licence application under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act to prepare a site and to construct the deep geologic repository facility.
Further details on the scope of the review can be found in the terms of reference contained in the agreement. The agreement, along with more information on the project, is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca , reference # 06-05-17520 as well as on the Web site of the CNSC at www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca.
About the Project
Ontario Power Generation is proposing to construct and operate a facility for the long-term management of low and intermediate level radioactive waste at the Bruce Nuclear Site, located on the Bruce Peninsula, near the shores of Lake Huron in the municipality of Kincardine. The project will hold waste currently in interim storage on the Bruce Nuclear Site in the Western Waste Management Facility, as well as the wastes that continue to be produced by the operation of nuclear generating stations at Bruce, Pickering and Darlington. Low level waste consists of industrial items that have become contaminated with low levels of radioactivity during routine clean-up and maintenance activities at nuclear generating stations. Intermediate level radioactive waste consists primarily of used nuclear reactor components, ion-exchange resins, and filters used to purify reactor systems. Used nuclear fuel will not be stored or managed in the deep geologic repository.
About the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
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.
About the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians and the environment and to implement Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
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Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Communications
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
lucille.jamault@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
Tel.: 613-957-0434
Aurèle Gervais
Media and Community Relations
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
Aurele.Gervais@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
Tel.: 613-996-6860
